Bengaluru: The two immigration officers, who were arrested on Sunday at the Kempegowda International Airport under the Customs Act for allegedly conniving in smuggling of contraband, are sub-inspectors from the Intelligence Bureau, who were deputed to the KIA from Maharashtra in 2011.
Sources said that the two junior assistant officers – Pravin Kumar and P.D. Katkar – were reportedly caught assisting the accused, Arjunan Veloo (Malaysian) and Santhi Narayanan (Indian), in smuggling 3 kg of gold from Malaysia to India.
“The DRI has enough evidence of officials' connivance with the duo. While one of them was caught redhanded with the contraband gold the other official was directing him from outside. The CDRs of the mobile phones of Pravin and Katkar reflect that they were in touch with Arjunan and Santhi. They had exchanged phone calls and messages with each other," said an official source.
He said that Pravin and Katkar were reportedly promised Rs 20,000 per kg of gold as commission. The duo has, however, denied their involvement in the crime.
“Though there's no evidence of their earlier involvement in any crime, it cannot be ruled out. They have been arrested under Sections 132 and 135 (smuggling) of the Customs Act and remanded in judicial custody till March 24," said the officer.
Arjunan and Santhi arrived at the KIA on Sunday by Malaysian Airlines MH104 with 3 kg of gold (2 kgs in bars and pieces / 1 kg of ornaments), which were concealed in a mobile pouch.
They reportedly handed the pouch to Katkar at the washroom before the immigration counter to be handed over to an unknown person at the alleged direction of Pravin.
“The DRI will interrogate the officials regarding the person, who was supposed to collect the consignment from them,” the officer added.
