The Airport Customs Department on Wednesday booked a commander with Air India for allegedly trying to smuggle gold bars through his baggage at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
According to sources, the accused has been identified as V. Pratap. Officials said Pratap was on a Jeddah-Hyderabad-Mumbai flight that landed at the airport on Tuesday night. While passing through the customs counter, he was allegedly spotted trying to conceal something in his luggage, after which he was taken aside.
“A search of his baggage revealed seven gold bars worth Rs. 15.65 lakh, which were seized. The commander, while being questioned, admitted to possession, carriage and concealment of the gold bars,” said an official. The official said Pratap was arrested early on Wednesday, but since the value of the contraband seized from him was less than Rs. 1 crore, he was granted bail on the spot in keeping with the provisions of the Customs Act.
