Chennai: Top customs officer, 3 others in DRI net for importing restricted green peas worth Rs 2 crore
The other officers arrested are superintendent Shiv Kashyap, appraising officer Nithish Kumar, and examiner Manish, all working at sea port customs.
CHENNAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths arrested additional commissioner of customs, sea port, Sathish Kumar, and three others for facilitating the import of green peas worth over Rs 2 crore, a restricted item at the Chennai port.
The other officers arrested are superintendent Shiv Kashyap, appraising officer Nithish Kumar, and examiner Manish, all working at sea port customs.
DRI investigators are digging into the WhatsApp exchanges between the suspects and their contacts.
As per regulations, green peas can be imported to Chennai only via the Kolkata port; this batch was brought here directly from Dubai.
The DRI had initially arrested only the three officers. The role of the additional commissioner, a 2010 batch IRS officer, was revealed when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers further probed the possible connivance of senior customs officers in the incident.
“In the WhatsApp exchanges, DRI officials found the demand for cash and in-kind made by customs officers,” sources said.
Last week, DRI sleuths searched two containers that arrived from Jebel Ali, Dubai. While the consignment had been declared as urad dal and toor dal, the actual commodity was about 100 tonnes of green peas, a restricted item to be imported directly via the Chennai port.
According to norms, green peas can be imported only via the Kolkata port. Certain goods are restricted to specific ports primarily due to customs regulations and due to specialised handling requirements, safety concerns, and the need to monitor sensitive items, like agricultural products susceptible to diseases.
However, in connivance with importers, the accused officers allowed green peas by passing it off as urad and toor dals, it has been alleged.
