Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 8: Three customs and GST officials have been booked in connection with their involvement with gold past smuggling racket. The said racket was unearthed by officials at the international airport here during October last year.

Those who face action in the case are superintendent of central taxes (east commissionerate), Rajanish Kumar Sarosh, Sudarshan Kumar and Shiv Kumar Meena, who happen to be inspectors of customs. The CBI has also registered cases against the proprietor of Best Way Super Market, N T Jamsheer, and some unknown persons.

The officials of the directorate of revenue intelligence had confiscated 11 kg of gold worth Rs 3.67 crore that was hidden in the form of paste from six passengers during October last. An investigation into the large scale recovery unearthed the fact that the smuggling racket worked with the help of a network of carriers and receivers. Customs officials reportedly worked in connivance with these people. The first information report claims that the operation of the racket came to light after the racket was in operation for over a year.

Prime accused, Rajanish, has been accused of choosing two inspectors for helping in the operation. Sudarshan was made inspector of customs in the air intelligence unit of the airport here. He worked in that position between August 2017 and August 2018.

International passengers who face action in the case happen to be Kamya Sharma, Asha Badrinath, Hakim, Naushad, Ejiyaz Khalid and Shibin Habeed. Rajanish was working as link between the smugglers in Dubai and passengers who acted as carriers for smuggling gold from Dubai. The smugglers at Dubai chose the passengers who were not normally screened at the airports. Jamsheer got details of the carriers in advance for being conveyed to Rajanish, it is said.