Mumbai: Customs dismantles crane importer’s duty evasion scam

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The Customs Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch had apprehended an individual for evading customs duty of Rs 2 crore by committing financial fraud.

According to customs officials, a tip-off had alerted them about the alleged financial fraud by Charanjit Transport Company to evade customs duty. As used and old cranes attract customs duty which is comparatively less than the recently manufactured ones, the transport company had misrepresented the year of manufacturing of the cranes it imported.

Doing so made it eligible to import under the head of ‘old and used cranes' and thus pay less or no customs duty.

Investigation by the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (Import) revealed the year of manufacture of the imported cranes as recent. "Charanjit Transport company had filed 63 bill entries during the period October 2018 to October 2023 for the clearance of 65 units of old and used cranes. The units were imported from China," stated the remand application filed by customs department.

The customs officials have arrested Jaspal Singh Dhodi, 48, 0n November 17, as he holds the power of attorney of the Charanjit Transport Company.