CBI arrests Two Former Deputy Commissioners of Customs in Separate Cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has arrested two then Deputy Commissioners of Customs posted at UB Centre, JNCH, Mumbai (Maharashtra) during investigation of two separate cases.

On the allegations of working as a syndicate to use passports of various persons who had stayed abroad for more than 02 years and using those passports to import various items in the guise of items belonging to the passport holders, the CBI has registered two separate cases against two then Deputy Commissioners of Customs, posted at UB Centre, JNCH, Mumbai, and others including a private person, CHA, etc.

It is alleged that the aforementioned public workers conspired with others at various times during their assignment at UB Centre, JNCH, Mumbai and abused the Customs Act’s “Transfer of Residence” provision. It is also alleged that the aforementioned syndicate used passports of various individuals who had stayed abroad for more than two years, particularly in Gulf countries, to import various items such as household items, electronic items, and other unknown items by first undervaluing the goods and then concealing some other undeclared items alongside the other declared items.

Furthermore, the public employees were reportedly collecting illicit payment from various CHAs through private people, and the unlawful gratification so obtained was directed to different accounts and persons known to the officers via both the banking channel and the hawala route. The accused reportedly utilised this method to give free of charge to consignments delivered by CHAs with the assistance of Customs Officers, and unlawful gratification was allegedly paid to public workers through a private individual.

Searches were undertaken at the premises of the accused and their collaborators in seven locations, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Patna and Samastipur (Bihar), Khargon District (Madhya Pradesh), and others, resulting in the discovery of several incriminating documents/articles.

The apprehended suspect will appear before the Designated Court.