Vigilant Mumbai airport Customs officials have detained many celebrities for trying to sneak in valuables in a bid to evade duty in the past two months
Vigilant Mumbai airport Customs officials have detained many celebrities for trying to sneak in valuables in a bid to evade duty in the past two months
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Extra vigilant customs officials at the Mumbai airport are giving sleepless nights to stars and celebrities who allegedly try to sneak in high-end imported goods to evade duty and when caught in the act plead ignorance about the law.
Mallika Sherawat's brother Vikram Lamba was stopped by Mumbai Customs yesterday on his return flight from Dubai
In the last two months, Bollywood stars and starlets, businessman and politicians have been detained by the Customs officials, while trying to pass through the green channel with undeclared articles or foreign currencies.
The latest inclusion in the long list of such offenders is Vikram Lamba, brother of actress Mallika Sherawat, who was detained at the airport yesterday morning for carrying around 13,000 pounds ($21,000), high-end luxury items and electronic goods with him. The upper limit of carrying cash with prior permission is $5,000.
The long list of high-profile celebs includes Bipasha Basu, Minissha Lamba, Sangeeta Jindal, wife of business magnate Sajjan Jindal and Goa education minister Atanasio Monserrate.
Lamba, who landed in Mumbai from Dubai yesterday morning around 9 am from an Emirates flight, was intercepted by Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Sameer Wankhede, while crossing through the green channel.
"He was carrying about 13,000 pounds and high-end luxury items such as purse, perfume and electronic goods.
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However, the permissible limit does not allow anybody to take more than $5,000 that too with a prior information and permission.
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He was carrying a large number of undeclared foreign currencies and luxury items. We have booked him under the different sections of Customs Act and also are trying to find out how he managed to get so much foreign currencies," said a senior Customs official on condition of anonymity.
'I'm Mallika's brother'
Lamba told Customs that he is a film producer and also theu00a0 brother of Mallika Sherawat, "After being caught he himself revealed his relationship with the actress. Like other celebrities he too maintained that he was not aware of the existing laws," said a Customs official.
Confirming the incident Mahendra Pal, Additional Commissioner of Customs Air Intelligence Wing (AIU) of Mumbai Airport, said, "We have intercepted an airline passenger named Vikram Lamba for carrying undeclared dutiable goods and foreign currencies.
We are investigating the matter and will take his detailed statement then only decision regarding his detention or release will be taken."
13 hours later
The customs officials told MiD DAY that Lamba was released late in the night after facing around 13 hours of interrogation.
Big names detained by customs
26 May 2011: Mumbai Customs intercepted Bipasha Basu who was carrying undeclared goods worth Rs 60,000, including eight pairs of sandals, purses and costly watches minutes after she landed from a London flight.
On May 18: The Mumbai customs intercepted Minissha Lamba, who was carrying undeclared diamond jewellery around Rs 30 lakh. She was interrogated for almost 11 hours.
On May 20: The Mumbai customs intercepted Sajid Sayyed Shaikh, a Mira Road builder, with gold jewellery and foreign currency. In his statement he too stated that he was not aware of the existing laws. Shaikh was detained and was released on bail the next day by a city court.
May 1, 2011: The wife of business tycoon Sajjan Jindal, was fined over Rs 10 lakh for carrying undeclared diamond jewellery and other imported valuables worth Rs 60 lakh in October 2010.
April 2, 2011: Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate was detained at the Mumbai airport for allegedly carrying unaccounted foreign and Indian currency.
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