The Central Bureau of Investigation (Anti Corruption Bureau), Mumbai, on Thursday raided the official and residential premises of customs inspector BP Pandhare
The Central Bureau of Investigation (Anti Corruption Bureau), Mumbai, on Thursday raided the official and residential premises of customs inspector BP Pandhare in a bid to establish his links in a multi-crore electronic goods smuggling racket allegedly operated by Delhi businessman Sunil Gupta. Pandhare is posted in the air cargo wing of the customs department.
Gupta was arrested on July 1 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, that had earlier intercepted two consignments imported into India by the businessman. Although the consignments were declared to be valued at a few lakhs of rupees, they actually turned out to be worth Rs2.6 crore.
“The complaint lodged with us deals with these two consignments that were imported and shown as containing DVD parts, panels, remote controls and lenses. But they actually contained handycams, iPhones, iPods, video games and car stereo systems.
Pandhare has issued the certification of the bill of entry of these consignments stating that the items were physically verified by him and found to tally with the declaration made by the importer,” a senior CBI officer told DNA.
The officer also said that more customs officials of the rank of examiners would also be probed since Pandhare’s clearing of the consignments had to be sanctioned by senior officers of the customs department at Nhava Seva port through which they were imported.
“We have charged Pandhare with cheating, misusing his official position and conspiring with the importer and the clearing house agent to indulge in smuggling of electronic goods without payment of customs duty. We have seized incriminating documents from Pandhare’s office and residence,” said the officer. The CBI is investigating the role of three Navi Mumbai firms in the racket.
a_renni@dnaindia.net
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