CBI Conducts Searches In An On-Going Investigation Of A Case

. The Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted searches at 19 premises in Nagpur, Mumbai & Ahmedabad at the premises of private persons including Proprietors/Partners of importing firms, Customs House Agents and others in an on-going investigation of a case. During searches incriminating documents, digital devices and other articles were recovered.

CBI has registered a case on 05.03.2021 against unknown officials of Customs & Central Excise and unknown private persons in pursuance to the orders dated 25.02.2021 (Criminal PIL No. 5 of 2016) of Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench on the allegations of smuggling/illegal import of hazardous Betel Nuts/Areca Nuts/Rotten Nuts evading Customs Duty causing huge loss of crore of rupees to the Govt. Exchequer.

It was also alleged that unscrupulous Traders in connivance with the Public Servants were indulged in smuggling of substandard Betel Nuts/Areca Nuts of foreign origin & falsely claiming the same to be originating from the Members Countries, on the basis of fake certificates of origin, bogus & undervalued bills/invoices and forged Clearance Certificates and thus causing evasion of Customs Duty.

Investigation is continuing.