On 25.4.2000, a show cause notice was issued raising a demand of Rs. 46,02,88,095/- under Rule 57AH of the Excise Rules read with Section 11A of the Act. The appellant also proposed penal action under Rule 173Q of the Excise Rules and payment of interest under Section 11AA/11AB of the Act. On 24.7.2003, the Commissioner, Central Excise, Ludhiana, passed a detailed order and also ordered for recovery of Rs. 60,37,706/- i.e. the entire amount of the Modvat/Cenvat credit availed by the assessee-respondent No. 1 on RFO as common input, which was used for manufacture of dutiable and exempted goods under Rule 57AH of the Excise Rules read with Section 11A of the Act. An amount of Rs. 2,40,87,274/- was ordered to be adjusted against the aforesaid amount, which had been debited by the assessee-respondent No. 1 in two instalments. The Commissioner also imposed a penalty of Rs. 60,37,706, which was equal to disallowed credit as provided under Rule 57AH(2) of the Excise Rules read with Section 11AC of the Act. Charging and appropriation of interest under Rule 57AH of the Excise Rules read with Section 11AB of the Act was also ordered. However, in view of Board’s Circular F.No. 591/28/2001-CX, dated 16.10.2001, the Commissioner has confirmed the demand of Rs. 1,80,49,568/- only and the remaining demand of Rs. 1,77,72,27,901/- was deemed to have been dropped (A-1).