Indian customs officials probed in air cargo bribery case

INDIA's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered against seven customs officials across the state of Gujarat which implicate a Ahmedabad-based freight forwarding company.


Following raids by the CBI, customs officials were identified as KC Suresh, Akhil Barot and Chandubhai Kalal from Air Cargo at Ahmedabad, OP Pandey from Mundra port, and Devendra Sagwan and NB Chaudhry from Surat, reported Mumbai's DNA (Daily News Analysis).


The searches uncovered clearance and import-export consignment bribes of large amounts of money from the freight forwarder between July and October at Ahmedabad, Mundra and Surat.


Mr Chaudhry of Surat would not allow officials to enter his home before he had burnt cash estimated at a value of INR30 million (US$660,000)


"There is no doubt that a whole network of bribery involving customs officers exists, but the CBI couldn't get much of it", said CBI. "They checked at ICD, Sabarmati and Air Cargo in Ahmedabad along with offices in Mundra and Surat, but they haven't much evidence."
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)