Ambani yatch case: Adag makes fresh appeal to govt

Ammolite Holdings, an Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (Adag) company, on Friday withdrew its application against the customs department in connection with the confiscation of a yacht, Tian, owned by a foreign subsidiary of the company.

Ammolite’s counsel Srikant Doijode told the Bombay high court that the company has made a fresh representation to the government and the issue is under consideration.

The division bench of justice VC Daga and justice JP Devadhar has, however, allowed the company to move court afresh in case there are any grievances after the government authorities decide the case.

In March, the customs department had demanded Rs3 crore to release the yacht . The group had earlier paid Rs25 crore along with a bank guarantee of Rs15 crore.

Ammolite, in its petition filed in June this year, had denied the allegation made by the customs department that it had imported a luxury yacht by flouting the customs act.

“The vessel was purchased by a foreign company and its registration in Jersey is valid till 2018,” said an affidavit filed by Surendra Khot, the signatory authority of the company.

The customs had disagreed with the company’s version. “The imported luxury yacht ‘Tian’ was imported in contravention of Section 111(m) of the customs act, hence is liable for confiscation... The petitioner has indulged in smuggling by violating the provisions of the act and in league with others to evade duties,” SR Vichare, assistant commissioner of customs, had said in an affidavit.

Tian was seized in February by the Central Intelligence Unit of the customs department in Mumbai. The department claimed that custom duty was payable as the vessel was imported. It informed the court that purchase and charter of the yacht was a “sham” transaction, only to evade customs.