In the wake of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launching a probe into the alleged irregularities in the import of old photocopiers to Kochi, the Cochin Customs is all set to initiate departmental action against officers arraigned as accused in the case.
According to officials, the department is awaiting an official intimation on CBI proceedings. Based on the intimation, the department will look into evidence gathered by the CBI against the accused officers and initiate action accordingly.
The Central agency has registered cases against eight persons, including three Customs officers and a Customs house broker, in connection with the import of multifunctional digital photocopiers (MFD), considered as e-waste, through the Kochi port. As part of the investigation, the sleuths also raided nine locations in Kochi and Kolkata simultaneously.
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Rules flagrantly flouted
According to the case, the accused imported the machines in violation of hazardous waste rules and foreign trade policy, and prepared a false valuation report on the consignment in connivance with public servants to release the consignment for sale in the open market. Meanwhile, the Customs Department has already approached the High Court seeking reversal of an order by a Customs tribunal to release the MFDs.
The department had earlier ordered the Kolkata-based importers to re-export the 3,100 machines that had arrived at the Kochi port, besides seeking a redemption fine of ₹1.5 crore on the importers. The importers, however, approached a division bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal in Bengaluru, which then set aside the directive. Besides the Customs Department, the State Pollution Control Board had intervened in the matter, seeking re-export of the consignment at the earliest.
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