By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Aug 24:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against the then Superintendent of Customs, Bond Section, Jawaharlal Nehru Customs House (JNCH), Nhava Sheva, Raigad (Maharashtra) and others including two private companies, on charges of duty evasion on Wednesday.
The raids were conducted in Goregaon (Mumbai), Navi Mumbai, Thane, Noida and Sitapur (Uttar Pradesh), based on an FIR (No RCO 262023A0031 dated August 21) registered by the Anti Corruption Bureau, Mumbai against Mayank Singh, the then Superintendent of Customs (now posted in Parking Plaza, JNCH), Shree Sai Snehal Import and Export Private Limited, Goregaon, Mumbai and Shree Marketing, Thane.
The accused were booked under section 120 B of Indian Penal Code and sections 7,8,9 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (amended in 2018) for taking delivery of goods imported without paying Customs duty.
Shree Sai Snehal Import and Export Private Limited and Shree Marketing had imported certain goods under the Bill of Entry (No 6699481 dated December 16,2021) and the Bill of Entry (No 7480205 dated February 14,2022). The Central Intelligence unit of the JNCH had kept the goods imported under the Bill of Entry (No 7480205) on hold.
The importers were served show cause notice under Indian Customs Act 1962 and were asked to pay Rs 14.52 lakh towards redemption fine/ penalty (Rs. 9,56,000/-plus Rs. 4,96,000/). However both the companies entered into a conspiracy allegedly by paying bribe with Mayank Singh and others and managed to get delivery of the goods covered under these 02 Bills of Entry, without paying the due fine/ penalty and thereby, caused loss to the Government Exchequer.
During the surprise check by CBI, it was revealed that on record it was shown that the goods were re-exported on August 20,2022. In support of the claim, the files (No 5261 and 5263 dated August 05,2022) were quoted. However the files turned out to be fake and it was revealed that Singh had managed the entire deal.