Sheetal Mafatlal was not aware that a senior customs officer was watching her when she claimed VAT at London's Heathrow airport. Indian customs have appointed a senior officer at London to keep tabs on offenders.
Sheetal Mafatlal was not aware that a senior customs officer was watching her when she claimed VAT at London's Heathrow airport. Indian customs have appointed a senior officer at London to keep tabs on offenders.
His job is to inform his counterparts in India about the defaulter, the nature of the purchases and the value.
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This makes the task of the local customs officers easy even if the defaulter tries to walk through the green channel.
Sheetal was arrested at the Sahar airport on early Sunday morning for allegedly carrying undisclosed jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh.
She was in detention till late last night.
Customs were forced to appoint an officer in London after it was found that a large number of Bollywood celebrities and businessmen were involved in cheating the government of India.
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Explaining the modus operandi, a senior customs officer said defaulters generally make a stopover at Dubai or any other country en route to India.
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The ploy is to show that they have not flown directly from London.
She will be produced in Killa court today.
