Raids against 30 exporters in 4 cities in customs duty drawback scam

New Delhi, July 21 (UNI) The CBI today raided 30 places across four cities in connection with fraudulent transfer of more than Rs eight crore, in the form of supplementary Duty Draw Back claims, to the accounts of some exporters.

The raids carried at the premises of 20 exporters were made in Delhi, Mumbai, Nawashahr (Punjab) and Jaipur, according to the CBI.

A criminal case against two Customs officials -- Assistant Commissioner Ram Chandra and Superintendent of Customs D K Bose -- along with one Naresh and others has been registered by the CBI under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) r/w 420 (cheating), 467 (forging of valuable security), 468 (forging for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of IPC and Section 13(2) (criminal misconduct) r/w 13(1)(d) (obtaining pecuniary advantage through corrupt means) of the Revention of Corruption Act, 1988, for defrauding the Government of more than Rs eight crore.

It was alleged that there was fraudulent transfer of money to the accounts of certain exporters in the form of Supplementary Duty Draw Back claims made by them.

It has further been alleged that during 2004-06, supplementary Duty Draw Back claims of some exporters were accepted and payments made by the office of Commissioner of Customs (Air Cargo Export), New Custom House.

Subsequently, these were processed without any actual physical receipt of such claims, by manipulating and creating false records in the computers of the Customs House.

Supplementary Duty Draw Backs were credited into the bank accounts of the said exports electronically and subsequently the money was utulised by the exporters.

The officials had failed to take a follow-up on the matter after the accused did not submit documents for supplementary claims.

Besides, entries in the computer system were manipulated and the sanctioned amount of supplementary Duty Draw Back transferred to the bank of the exporters electronically.

UNI AN VD KP1825