(1)If the Commissioner or any person appointed under sub-section (2) of section 9 to assist him, in the course of any proceedings under this Act, is satisfied that a dealer has concealed the particulars of his sales or has furnished inaccurate particulars of his sales, he may, after giving the dealer a reasonable opportunity of being heard, direct that the dealer shall pay, by way of penalty, in addition to the amount of tax payable, a sum not exceeding two and a half times the amount of tax which would thereby have been avoided.
