Bengaluru: CBI books 2 customs officers, GST SP for aiding gold smuggling at KIA

BENGALURU: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against three central government officials and one businessman from Bengaluru for allegedly facilitating smuggling of gold from West Asian countries to India through the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

The accused officers are Rajnish Kumar Saroh, SP of central taxes, GST, east commissionerate; Sudarshan Kumar, then inspector of customs, KIA, and Shiva Kumar Meena, inspector of customs, air intelligence unit, KIA. NT Jamsheer, proprietor of Best Way super market, LBS Nagar, HAL, has also been booked.
The racket came to light when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in October 2018 intercepted six international passengers who were carrying 11kg of gold worth Rs 3.7 crore. Investigations revealed they had smuggled it into the country and were handing it over to receivers. The probe also brought to fore officials’ involvement in the racket.
According to CBI officials, Jamsheer was in contact with various smugglers/investors in Dubai. The smugglers selected the carriers in such a way that they didn’t give rise to suspicion and made them travel to India through KIA. The smugglers would send the carriers’ details in advance to Jamsheer, who, in turn, would pass on the information to Saroh, who would ensure the culprits would come out of the customs area unscathed.
CBI officials have booked a case under IPC section 420 and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act 2018.