Air India engineer held for smuggling gold bars

Blowing the lid off an alleged gold smuggling racket, two persons, including a senior engineer working with Air India were arrested by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs Department from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Tuesday night.

According to the AIU officials, on receipt of specific intelligence, a team of AIU officials intercepted Janardan Gunaji Kondvilkar, Senior Superintendent, Service Engineer, Air India while exiting the aero-bridge after attending to his duty in an Air India flight on Tuesday night.

"Personal search resulted in the recovery of eight cut pieces of gold bars weighing 1,649 grams valued at Rs 44.10 lakh, which were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. He admitted possession, carriage and recovery of the gold bars," said an AIU official.

He added, during the course of follow-up action, a receiver of the seized goods identified as Vijay Rawal who was waiting outside the airport was arrested and he too admitted knowledge of seized gold bars.