The Customs department probing the operation of a Muvattupuzha-based gold smuggling syndicate has imposed a fine of ₹90 crore on the 54 accused persons in the case.
According to officials, Customs Commissioner K.N. Raghavan, the adjudicating authority, has issued orders imposing a fine of ₹50 crore on P.A. Noushad, the key accused in the case. Jabin K. Basheer, a former civil police officer arrested in this connection, has been slapped with a fine of ₹20 crore while P.A. Faizal, Noushad’s brother, will have to pay ₹10 crore.
The order also stipulates confiscation of the gold bars weighing 13 kg seized from the racket, in addition to seizure of the vehicles owned by the racket members.
“The penalties were decided on the quantum of offence committed by each of the accused and the overall amount imposed varied from ₹1 lakh to ₹50 crore’’, said a top officer, adding that those in the third rung of the racket had been asked to pay fines ranging from ₹1 lakh and ₹50 lakh.
The adjudication was carried out by giving the accused an opportunity to represent their cases. They can now appeal against the verdict in the Appellate Tribunal after remitting 10.5 per cent of their respective fine amounts.
“The adjudication marked the second stage of action and this will be followed by prosecution in a criminal court’’, the official said. The adjudication order, issued on February 3, came a few days after eight of the accused, who had been detained under the provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, completed their term of preventive detention.
Last year, the competent authority office in Chennai had issued notices to five key accused in the case seeking to forfeit their properties. Around 56 properties worth several crores of rupees in Kerala are facing the attachment proceedings.
The Muvattupuzha-based racket allegedly smuggled between 1,700 kg and 2,000 kg of gold into Kerala between 2013 and 2015. Its operation came to light with the seizure of 13 kg of gold hidden beneath the seats of two ferry coaches and the arrest of one Salim, who landed here from Dubai on May 25 in 2015.
