83-year-old man held at Mumbai airport for smuggling gold bars worth Rs 19 lakh

An 83-year-old man was intercepted on Tuesday night by the air intelligence unit (AIU) at the Mumbai international airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold bars worth Rs 19 lakh

An 83-year-old man was intercepted on Tuesday night by the air intelligence unit (AIU) at the Mumbai international airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold bars worth Rs 19 lakh.

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A report in HT said that the accused, Harjinder Singh Chhabra, may be working as a carrier for a gang operating from across the country.

According to reports, Chhabra was returning from Dubai where his suspicious behaviour alerted a high ranking officer, when he was found entering the toilet cabin near the immigration counter.

The AIU said Chhabra concealed gold in a tissue box in the cabin. Investigations are on to ascertain whether he decided to abandon the gold in the toilet or this was a part of the plan with the receiver picking it up later.

Chhabra initially denied keeping the gold, which was wrapped in a black carbon paper. However, he confessed later."We checked his bag and found the same black carbon paper which was used in wrapping the gold in the toilet." said the officer.

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