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Special approval granted for night-race bikes
View(s):By Chris Kamalendran
The Treasury gave special approval for importers to retain ten high capacity motorcycles brought down specifically for last year’s December night races on the assurance to Customs that they would be re-exported, the Sunday Times learns. The Treasury approval came ahead of a formal regulation gazetted on April 11, permitting the import of motorcycles with engine capacity up to 1000cc for “sports purposes.”
The regulation said that a motorcycle with an engine capacity of 450cc or more and not more than 1001cc may be registered under the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act after fulfilling several requirements. At least 10 high capacity motorcycles imported for the night races in December last year had not been re-shipped in breach of customs regulations, but they have now been granted permission to register their motorcylces here, Customs sources said yesterday.
The motorcycles were imported under a system whereby their imports were permitted without paying of taxes, but under a guarantee that they would be re-shipped to the country of origin within a specified period. However, the importers paid Rs. 20,000 per motorcycle as Customs charges.
A senior Customs official said what had happened was a violation of the CARNET privilege whereby goods were allowed to be imported for a specific period without the payment of taxes. The privilege is usually provided for sports, entertainment events or for shooting of films.
The night races in December were organised by Carlton Sports. The Sunday Times last week exclusively reported that special laws have been promulgated to help owners of motorcycles with engine capacity of 1000 cc to register their bikes. The concession was given only for one consignment which had been imported.
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