𝗖𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗩𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 📢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱: "Interest is payable on irregularly availed CENVAT credit, regardless of utilization. Letters issued for recovery within four months are not time-barred. Appeal dismissed."

🔍 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁: Sri Venkateshwara Bhakti Channel. 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: The appellant reversed irregularly availed CENVAT credit but failed to pay due interest. The department issued a letter within four months, confirming liability for interest recovery.

⚖️ 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: The Tribunal upheld that interest is payable on availed or utilized CENVAT credit as per Rule 14 of CCR and the Indswift Laboratories ruling. A letter issued within four months for interest recovery is not time-barred. The absence of a show-cause notice was deemed irrelevant, as ample defense opportunities were provided.

📜 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Sri Venkateshwara Bhakti Channel vs. The Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs & Service Tax, Tirupathi. 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 01 February 2023. 📜 This ruling reinforces the obligation to pay interest on irregularly availed CENVAT credit, even when not utilized.