Customs fines, penalises Goa education minister

Goa education minister Antanasio Monseratte, who was intercepted by customs officials at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on April 2, has been fined and penalised for violation of the Customs Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) rules for the import and export of currency (Regulation 2000).

While officials remained tight-lipped on the amount of fine imposed, he has reportedly been asked to pay a fine of Rs5 lakh and a penalty of Rs2 lakh.

According to sources, Monseratte who was carrying unaccounted Indian currency has been given permission to redeem the money by paying the required redemption fine (RF).

While the currency was confiscated under section 113 of the Customs Act, 1962, Monseratte has been given the option of redeeming the same on the payment of the RF as per section 125 of the Customs Act. “A penalty amount has been imposed on him under section 114 of the Customs Act,” said a source.
Sources said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may now investigate the channel used to acquire the traveller’s cheques and dirhams, which were allegedly exchanged by an illegal dealer said to be a jeweller in Goa. “The ED should now investigate and file its case,” said the source.

The minister, who was planning to go abroad on April 2, was found in possession of Rs1 crore in foreign currency. He was also allegedly carrying Rs25 lakh in Indian currency.