Currency racket at RGIA: CBI registers cases against customs officers
Hyderabad: Officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Hyderabad unit, registered cases against three city-based customs department officers in connection with smuggling of foreign currency at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad.
According to CBI officials, a letter received from Alekhya Balla, deputy commissioner, RGIA customs commissionerate, along with a letter from K. Kranti Kumar, in-charge, crime and intelligence wing, CISF, RGIA, addressed to the deputy commissioner (customs), RGIA, transferring the case pertaining to seizure of foreign and Indian currency by CISF - CIW at RGIA on March 16, 2023 for conducting further investigation.
"It is alleged that on March 16, 2023 at about 7:45 am, CISF personnel at RGIA intercepted Om Prakash Datta of steward Prashanti HS and L. Sanjay Pal, omullane assistant working as loader at customs baggage handling area while exchanging foreign currency of various countries equivalent to Rs 2,93,425 with Gulam Ali and his son Md. Sajid, residents of Bahadurpura, who were carrying Indian currency of various denominations valuing Rs 4,04,380,” CBI officials said in the FIR.
It is also reported that the foreign currency was received by Datta from P. Chakrapani and Y. Sreenivasu, superintendents, and Pankaj Kumar Gautam, inspector of customs department posted at RGIA for exchange with the assistance of L. Sanjay Pal. It is also reported that this was a regular practice. The CISF officials handed over the seized currency to the customs officials for further course of action.
The enquiry was completed by CBCI and the enquiry officer recommended for conversion of RC against Y. Sreenivasu, Pankaj Gautam, and Chakrapani as Prima facie discloses commission of Cognizable offences under section 120-B (Criminal breach of trust) of the IPC and Sec.7 of PC Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).
Further Gunjan Chauhan, joint commissioner, office of the director general of Vigilance, Indirect Taxes and Customs had on June 26 communicated that the competent authority, the Union finance minister has accorded prior approval.