‘Mr Incorruptible’ gets his due

In 30 years of service Yogesh Shah, superintendent, customs and central excise, has established world records in nabbing smugglers at Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports. His total 'haul' so far is Rs1,200 crore in gold, diamonds, silver and narcotics.

His fellow customs officers have tried in vain to have him transferred to remote places and he has been offered huge sums by his victims to let them off.

But, Shah, who is called 'Mr Incorruptible' in his department, has not been tempted even once. Today, the Gujarat government has recognised this upright officer and given him a reward of Rs1,96,000.

Shah, incidentally, is also a crack shot. He is a state and national air rifle champion and has represented the country at the 1982 Asian Games and 1994 Los Angeles Olympics. So, he has decided to utilise this money to construct a 10x3 metres shooting range behind his house so that Gujarat "may produce more champions" in a sport they have traditionally done well.

In 1996 a German national was carrying Rs52 lakhs of gold in his sandals, when Shah detected him at the SVP airport here. "The man offered me one sandal, then both…I refused," he says. He has also appeared on a BBC programme and has been recommended by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).