CBI conducts raids at Chennai airport

Chennai, Mar 1 (UNI) A 15-member CBI team today conducted raids at the commercial wing in airport here, following allegations of irregularities.

CBI sources said several important documents and CDs, containing details of commercial contracts at the airport, were seized during the raid, which began in the wee hours of today.

The raids followed complaints of increasing irregularities in contracts signed with respect to setting up of hotels, telephone booths and car parking areas.

The investigating agency mounted surveillance over a period of time, following specific allegations about commercial officials getting involved in irregularities in renewal of licence to hotels.

The searches started in the commercial section and later extended to other sections.

Unaccounted money in rupees and in foreign currency were also found in possession of the commercial officials.

As per official norms every official should notify the money in his/her possession in a register before commencing the shift.

''Anything found above this amount is termed unaccounted,'' the CBI sources added.

Though electronic goods including watches, computers and mobile phones were also said to have been seized, airport officials were tight-lipped on the raids.

Early last week, the CBI raided the customs area in the international arrival section of Begumpet airport and arrested seven Customs and Central Excise officials.

The arrested customs staff were found to be in possession of unaccounted money and contraband in the form of customs-notified foreign liquor and electronic goods seized from passengers flying in from abroad.

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