CBI files cases against 6 Customs officials

The CBI has filed a FIR against the six customs officials for allegedly helping in importing real guns by marking them as toy guns. It is alleged that the six officials who worked at the air cargo complex in Mumbai allowed the "blank guns" or those without ammunition to be imported by masking them as toy guns in documents between 2016 and 2017. Sources said that this is not just a corruption case but also involves security aspects, so along with Prevention of Corruption Act, the Arms Act has also been invoked against the accused. During the searches at eight places including Mumbai, Pune & Delhi at the premises of public servants and private persons including Importer & Custom Broker which led to recovery of cash of Rs. 9 lakh (approx) and incriminating documents in an on-going investigation of a case.

At least 255 blank guns were imported by Balaji Automotive Solutions in 2016 by concealing them as toy guns with the help of the six customs officials, the CBI said in the FIR. A consignment of such guns was intercepted by the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch that deals with imports at the air cargo complex in May 2017. The Custom officials and otheres were fraudulently cleared the consignments which were declared “Metal Toy Gun”. there was undervaluation of the goods in violation of the Import Policy as mandated in the Compulsory Customs Requirements (CCRs), thereby causing the pecuniary advantage to the importer and loss to the Government of India.After internal investigation, the matter was referred to the Central Vigilance Commission, and based on which the CBI filed the criminal case against CS Pavan, former Deputy Commissioner of Customs; five other customs officials and Balaji Automotive Solutions.