AIU once bitten, twice shy

Mumbai airport's Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) surely believes in learning from its mistakes.

Mumbai airport's Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) surely believes in learning from its mistakes. Having been on the receiving end of a lot of flack for letting off Amitabh Bachchan with dutiable goods worth over Rs 1 crore in 2007, the AIU was waiting to detain duty evaders like Sheetal Mafatlal.u00a0

On Green alert

AIU officials said after the Bachchan incident, sleuths were extra cautious. "When we have specific information, as in the case of Sheetal, if the passenger is found to be opting for the Green channel, we make sure that he or she is detained for a check," said B S Nunwal, additional commissioner, customs.
u00a0

Lucky: In 2007, Amitabh Bachchan was not intercepted at the airport even though he was carrying dutiable goods worth Rs 1 crore. He had to later pay up

Sources said in Sheetal's case, it was already known that she had claimed Value Added Tax refund from Heathrow airport. "This had pre-indicated that she had shopped for a huge sum," said an officer of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
u00a0
Past mistake

In April 2007, Amitabh and son Abhishek too had claimed VAT refund at Heathrow. Since they were not stopped by the AIU unit, the DRI booked them for allegedly smuggling in dutiable goods. The DRI case was based on strong evidence that the Bachchans had filled a declaration-cum-VAT refund on expensive goods purchased in London.
u00a0
While the Bachchans were not arrested, the DRI said they had not declared their goods, as they considered their value to be within their free allowance of Rs 25,000. Therefore, they "innocently" walked through the Green channel. But they were later asked to pay Rs 36 lakh (plus 13 per cent interest) after the DRI saw their VAT refund.
u00a0
"Sheetal too would have been served a notice to pay duty had she not been intercepted," an official said.