Mumbai: Based on specific intelligence that a syndicate was fraudulently availing drawback and RoSCTL benefit by exporting misdeclared and highly overvalued garments to various African countries by using several dummy IECs from ICD Talegaon (Pune), officers of DRI intercepted two such live consignments.

DRI uncovers bogus IEC export scam

Examination of the said consignment revealed that misdeclared and inferior quality goods were being exported at grossly inflated values. Simultaneous searches were conducted at eight premises in Mumbai. Preliminary investigations revealed that 14 IECs, identified so far, were issued in the names of fictitious individuals and were non-existent/bogus.

All export documentation and invoices were prepared by a Mumbai-based mastermind. Crucial digital evidence, including fake invoices, were recovered during searches. In his voluntary statement, the mastermind admitted that the syndicate procured low-quality goods from local markets in Mumbai, Kolkata, and other cities without invoices or e-way bills, and exported them by overvaluing to the extent of five to six times their actual value. Using this modus operandi, they fraudulently availed drawback benefits of approximately Rs 18.74 crore and RoSCTL benefits of approximately Rs 96 crore.

The mastermind, who has orchestrated the whole scheme, was arrested along with the customs broker, who was a complicit in the fraud and received commission for processing such exports. Further investigation is under progress.

Mumbai: Two Mumbai-based gold jewellery manufacturing companies were cheated of Rs.31 lakh in the name of the well-known Chandukaka Saraf shop in Pune. In connection with the case, the MIDC police arrested an accused identified as Kartik Shah, 33. Shah had obtained the GST certificate of Chandukaka Saraf and misused it to commit the fraud.

Borivali Man with Jewellery Trade Links Behind Fraud

According to the MIDC police, the accused, Kartik Shah, resides in Borivali West. He had worked in a goldsmith’s shop for a few years, and several of his relatives are also in the same business. Therefore, he had knowledge of the trade and was familiar with its intricacies. Using this knowledge, he devised a fraudulent plan.

On 8 August, Shah visited the renowned jewellery store ‘Chandukaka Saraf’ in Pune, claiming to be an officer from the International Gemological Institute. On the pretext of updating the store’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) certificate, he requested a copy of the document. Owing to his convincing body language, no one suspected him, and the manager handed over a copy of the GST certificate.

After obtaining the certificate, Shah executed the next phase of his plan. On 9 August, he contacted two jewellery manufacturers in Mumbai—‘Money Jewels Expert with Better Diamond’ and ‘Calista Jewellers’. Posing as a representative of Chandukaka Saraf, he claimed that two new showrooms were opening and jewellery was required for display there. To gain the trust of the companies, he sent them a copy of the GST certificate, as a result of which they believed him. He instructed the companies to send the jewellery through parcel porters, giving different addresses in Mumbai and Pune. However, before the porters could reach the showroom address, Shah intercepted them on the road in Bandra and took the parcel. He obtained a parcel near Chetna college in Bandra West and another at Khadaki in Pune.

Inside the Conspiracy

In this way, Shah looted gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs.31.58 lakh from both companies. The fraud came to light when it was realised that the jewellery never reached Chandukaka Saraf Company. A case was registered in this regard at the MIDC police station, where the police later investigated and arrested Kartik Shah in Mumbai.

The mobile number used by the accused was traced, and based on information provided by the porter company, Shah was located and arrested. The further investigation is underway to determine how many more companies the accused may have cheated. Under the guidance of senior police inspector Ravindra Wani, detection officer Yash Palve executed the operation.

Mumbai: In a shocking case of child abduction and murder, the Surat Crime Branch arrested Vikas Shah from Mumbai for allegedly kidnapping and killing his 3-year-old cousin. The accused was apprehended following a joint investigation by the Surat Crime Branch and Amroli Police.

DCP Bhavesh Rozia says, “A woman complained that her 3-year-old son was taken away by her nephew, Vikas Shah, originally from Siwan, Bihar. On the 22nd, during the search by different police teams, the child’s dead body was found in a train toilet at Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak station. Surat Crime Branch and Amroli Police had been continuously working on the case for three days.

In a deeply disturbing incident, the body of the 3-year-old boy was found inside a dustbin in the bathroom of AC coach B2 of the Kushinagar Express (Train No. 22537) in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident came to light around 1:00 am, when cleaning staff began cleaning the coaches after the train arrived at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mumbai, following its journey from Gorakhpur.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, Swapnil Nila, confirmed the details of the incident.

He mentioned, “This morning, the 22537 Kushinagar Express, running from Gorakhpur, arrived at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. When the cleaning staff was cleaning the train, they found a child left in the B2 coach of the Third AC. After that, the staff took the child to the hospital, where it was declared dead…”

Further, he added that, “The child is about 3-4 years old… GRP and State Civil Police were informed… Further investigation is underway… We are trying to find out from where the child boarded the train and where the child was going. Was there anyone else with him?… CCTV footage is being checked… Some marks were found near the neck of the child in the beginning, and the condition of the child seemed bad.