Section 70. Furnishing of information by owners of cold storage, warehouses, godowns, etc

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force every owner or lessee of a cold storage, warehouse, godown or any such place, who stores therein taxable goods for hire or reward shall maintain or cause to be maintained a correct and complete account indicating the full particulars of the person whose goods are stored in such places and the quantity, value and date of delivery of such goods.

(2) Such accounts shall, on demand, be produced before the Commissioner or any officer authorised in this behalf who may take or cause to be taken such extracts therefrom or require such extracts to be furnished as he may consider necessary.

(3) If any owner or lessee of a cold storage, warehouse, godown or any other such place, who stores goods for hire or reward, contravenes any of the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) in a manner likely to lead to evasion of any tax payable under this Act, the Commissioner may, without prejudice to any other action which may be taken against such owner or lessee under any other provision of this Act direct, after giving an opportunity of being heard, that such owner or lessee shall pay by way of penalty not exceeding the amount of tax leviable on the goods in respect of which default is committed under sub-section (1) or (2).