CBI files chargesheet against seven accused in gold smuggling case

New Delhi [India], December 14 : The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a chargesheet on Thursday against seven accused, including a Delhi-based private company, its director and the then Superintendent of Customs in connection with a gold smuggling case.
The charges were presented before the Special Judge, CBI Cases, New Delhi.
It was alleged that the accused exported gold jewellery from India under the guise of a fake exhibition organized by a UAE-based firm controlled by the Director of the accused private company, a CBI release stated.
It was further alleged that Certificates of such exports were obtained by accused private company from Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). It was also alleged that the same jewellery was then brought back into India as unsold jewellery by submitting false declarations.
"The Director of the said private company with the assistance of his employees and dummy proprietor (who was paid a monthly salary by the said Director) and in connivance with said public servant, misused the reimport provision by bringing into India gold jewellery and declaring it a reimport(s) without obtaining the required clearance," the release mentioned.
Searches were earlier conducted at the premises of the accused. During the investigation, it was found that the accused had mis-utilized the Advance Authorisation Scheme and allegedly indulged in circular trading of gold by diverting the gold bullion to the grey market, the release stated.
The gold jewellery exported for exhibition purposes as per declaration made to the customs Department used to be re-imported to India by the accused private company or exported back to said private company based at Delhi by a UAE-based firm as unsold jewellery.
It was further alleged that the UAE-based firm used to file Customs Declaration before UAE Customs in which gold jewellery used to be declared for export to India by personal carriage through accused for a very small quantity i.e., less than a kilogram and simultaneously declare export to other countries of gold jewellery consignments of large quantity, i.e., around 50 kgs.
One of the accused allegedly travelled around 100 times to Dubai from India during the period 2018-2019. During 2019, the said accused was intercepted at IGI Airport, Delhi and was allegedly found in illegal possession of approx 50 Kgs Gold jewellery.
Flights were selected to India and other countries on the same day around same time and from the same airport. It was also alleged that after emigration formalities in Dubai, gold jewellery of bigger quantity was handed over to a person coming to India, as per the release.
Further investigation is underway, the release added.