CBI books customs officials in foreign currency smuggling case at RGIA
Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a formal investigation against customs officials deployed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(RGIA) in foreign currency smuggling case on Friday. The move came after a major foreign currency smuggling bust by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) last year.
The scandal came to light on March 16, 2023, when the Crime and intelligence wing of Central industrial security force(CISF) deployed at RGI Airport Hyderabad, apprehended four persons at city side arrival area while exchanging the foreign currency with Indian currency.
Going further into details, CISF personnel at RGIA, Hyderabad intercepted two persons, Om Prakash Datta and L.Sanjay Pal, working as office boy and loader respectively with Customs department were caught red handedly while exchanging foreign currency of various countries equivalent to Rs.2.93 lakhs with Gulam Ali and his son Md.Sajid, residents of Bahadurpura, Hyderabad who were carrying Indian currency of various denominations valuing Rs.4.04 lakhs. The foreign currencies include USD, Saudi Riyals,Dirham, Oman Riyals, Singapore dollar, Kuwait Dinar. The CISF personnel seized the money and handed over it to custom officials.
Investigation revealed that the foreign currency was received by Om Prakash Datta from P.Chakrapani and Y.Sreenivasu, Superintendents and Pankaj Kumar Gautham, Inspector, three working in the customs department posted at RGIA, Hyderabad.
Further probe revealed that this Foreign currency smuggling has been going on for quite some time. The CISF officials handed over the seized currency to the Customs Officials for further course of action. The Customs Department sought the help of the CBI for investigation. Subsequently the CBI jumped into action and started an investigation.
Preliminary investigation of law enforcement agency, revealed that Y.Sreenivasu and Peri Chakrapani, Superintendent, Customs Department, RGIA, Hyderabad, and Pankaj Gautam, Inspector, Customs Department, RGIA, Hyderabad as prima facie discloses commission of cognizable offences. Subsequently, the Central investigation agency booked a case under section 120-B IPC(Criminal conspiracy) and prevention of corruption Act.