The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday produced Alex C. Joseph, the prime suspect in the illegal import of luxury cars, in a city court here.
A special team of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch arrested Joseph from the lobby of Hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi a couple of days ago. He remained elusive ever since the agency registered a case against him, some Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials and others on March 20, 2013, in connection with violations in the pre/post import of luxury cars through sea ports.
The CBI had conducted simultaneous raids at 18 places across Tamil Nadu, including the premises of prominent personalities, and seized 33 luxury cars on charges of tax evasion.
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The modus operandi of the suspect was to procure high-end cars from foreign countries in the name of persons who could actually not afford to buy them. He would then collude with his associates and manage to evade pre/post import conditions and customs duty.
The offence caused an estimated loss of Rs. 48.4 crore to the Union government. Asked whether Customs and Road Transport officials colluded with the suspect, a CBI official said investigation was on to ascertain those aspects.
After Alex failed to respond to summons, the CBI issued a ‘Look Out Circular’ alerting immigration authorities in all airports to detain him on arrival or departure. On one occasion, even as investigators managed to corner the house where he was staying, Alex managed to give a slip and escaped, the sources said.
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A special court here permitted the CBI to conduct custodial interrogation of Alex for three days. The agency produced him in the court and filed an application seeking custodial interrogation of the accused to unearth more truth in the case.
After hearing submissions of counsel, S. Vanangamudi, Principal Special Judge for CBI cases permitted the CBI to custody of the accused till February 6.
The CBI said Alex, son of a schoolmaster from Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, used to import luxury cars from various countries through sea ports of Chennai, Kochin and Mumbai and airport of New Delhi. He allegedly imported them by preparing forged documents and invoices.