CBI probes Maharashtra customs department
Mumbai zone of the CBI had registered three cases against officials of the customs and central excise department in August
New Delhi: Role of several senior officials of the customs department posted at Nhava Sheva, Raigad (Maharashtra), is under the scanner of the CBI for allegedly selling seized consignments, worth several crores, to private entities. The agency has initiated a preliminary enquiry (PE) against several senior officials of the department for allegedly selling seized cigarettes to private firms.
Sources said, “There are allegations that the suspected officials recently sold seized cigarettes, which were smuggled to India, to two Mumbai-based private firms. The agency has decided to collect records pertaining to seized items from the disposal section of the customs department”. The agency will seek clarifications from suspected officials of the department in connection with its investigations into the PE, they added.
“The agency will also seek clarifications from senior representatives of the two suspected private firms. The PE has been registered by the CBI”, sources said. Earlier, the Mumbai zone of the CBI had registered three cases against officials of the customs and central excise department in August.