Politicos try to save customs man

After the raid by the Excise and Prohibition department’s Special Task Force against the illegal diversion of foreign liquor to open markets from the duty-free shop at RGIA, the director of enforcement of excise and prohibition, Mr Akun Sabharwal has been receiving calls from politicians and an AP minister seeking protection for a customs superintendent involved in the case.

Sources said the customs superintendent is a close relative of an AP politician and soon after his arrest phone calls came to Mr Akun Sabharwal.

The raids were carried out from 12 pm to 1 am on Wednesday night and the STF formally arrested two officials by 6 am on Thursday. On Friday, another official was arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Confirming the phone calls from AP politicians Mr Sabharwal said, “Yes, I have been receiving calls from politicians who sought protection for the customs superintendent. We don’t intend to save anyone,” he said.

Meanwhile, six STF teams have been trying to nab the kingpin behind the foreign liquor racket. A team is checking CCTV footage at the airport terminals and duty free shops based on bills seized from accused persons.

An STF official said the prime accused was absconding. “So far we have arrested three customs officials including customs superintendent Partha Sarathi. Six more officials are under the scanner of which three are absconding. We are also questioning some GMR staffers,” the official said.

The STF seized 35 bills of foreign liquor purchases from the duty free shop on various names. “Based on the time of the bill and the flight by which the passenger arrived we are continuing our investigation,” the official said.