Central Excise search on steel plant

A 7-member team from Department of Central Excise on Tuesday conducted surprise checks in the office and on the factory premises of N.S.R. Steel Plant, reportedly owned by a State Minister.

The team, led by Balakrishnan, Headquarters Superintendent, Department of Central Excise, began the search in Vellalar Colony, Nagercoil, at 10.45 a.m. This went on till 3 p.m. It cross-checked details such as quantity of steel produced and amount of duty paid.

Later, the team searched the factory premises at Pazhavoor around 4.30 p.m.

Though the officials remained tight-lipped, it is reliably learnt that documents showing huge duty evasion have been seized.