37 cars imported fraudulently, but cops have seized none

"We thank Sushmita Sen for blowing the lid of this (racket)," said Justice JN Patel on Tuesday. He and Justice VK Tahilramani was hearing the case regarding duty evasion by the actor for the import of a Land Cruiser. Investigations into the case have led to the city police stumbling upon 37 foreign cars fraudulently imported into India.

However, the judges were irked by the fact that none of those cars had been seized so far. "Such a network (for import of cars) can be used by terrorists. In 1993 (Mumbai) blasts, existing smuggling network was used to smuggle in RDX," Justice Patel said. "Do you want the FBI to come and guide you in this case?" 

Government pleader DA Nalawade assured the court that the cars would be seized in four weeks and the probe would be over in three months. The government has also stated in an affidavit that provisions of the organised crime control Act, MCOCA, cannot be invoked in this case as the evidence collected so far does not fulfil the provision of more than one chargesheet having been filed against any one accused in the last 10 years. 

The affidavit, filed by additional commissioner of police of Economic Offence Wing (EOW) Sanjay Saxena added that a special team had been set to investigate the import racket as it involved various ports across Mumbai. Also, discrepancies were found in the papers of the 37 imported cars registered with the customs authorities and the Regional Transport Office. "Dates of manufacture of these vehicles on the documents given to customs and the RTO are different. Vehicles were shown to be of old manufacturing year at the ports to evade customs duty." the affidavit stated. Of the 37 cars, five were imported through the Mumbai port.

The court has asked the police to file an additional affidavit within four weeks. Haren Choksey, through whom Sushmita brought her Land Cruiser, was arrested and granted bail by the HC last Friday.

Anshika Misra/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication