NRI tries flying out of Hyderabad with 500 gm gold

Hyderabad: An NRI woman was caught at Shamshabad airport on Sunday morning when she attempted to board a flight to Mumbai with about 500 gm gold concealed in her baggage. Officials seized the gold and booked a case.

The passenger, identified as Roshni Kothadia, was to board an Indigo flight (6E 247) from Hyderabad.

According to the Central Industrial Security Force, Roshni’s bag was checked as part of the routine security protocol after check-in at about 5.30 am. CISF constable Khusboo Kumari found something suspicious in the passenger’s bag.

“The constable referred Roshni’s bag for a physical check. During intensive physical baggage check, the personnel recovered five gold bars each weighing about 100 gm. They were foreign-made gold bars and the passenger did not produce any related documents,” said a senior official at the airport.

During interrogation, Roshni said she lived in the US with her parents and had come to India on November 15. She got the gold bars as a gift from her father-in-law who also lives in the USA. She was unable to produce any supporting documents like bills or proof of duty payment, officials said.

The officials said as there were foreign markings on the gold bars that were claimed to be brought from the US. Customs officials were informed and they took over the investigation. The approximate value of the gold is about Rs 15 lakh. “Prima facie it seems to be a tax evasion case that needs further investigation,” officials added.