The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) nabbed a senior diplomat from the UAE for allegedly smuggling 37 kg gold jewellery, estimated to be worth about Rs 10 crore, at the IGI Airport in New Delhi on Monday morning.
The counselor-level officer was reportedly travelling with an Indian passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight SQ 406. The flight, which originated from Singapore, had stopovers in Dubai and Mumbai before landing in Delhi.
The DRI was acting on specific intelligence that the diplomat would board the flight from Dubai. According to the information received by DRI, he was expected to get off in Mumbai, but he remained in the plane till Delhi.
After he was nabbed at the Delhi airport, the accused reportedly invoked his diplomatic immunity and refused to submit his baggage for checking. The DRI then issued search orders, after which his baggage was searched and the gold seized.
The Indian passenger accompanying the diplomat has also been detained. While the offence is non-bailable, the duo have not been arrested yet. The diplomat has been detained in an isolated cell within the airport. According to sources in the External Affairs ministry, the Indian government has decided to deport him.
The diplomat is alleged to have smuggled 20 kg gold jewellery last month also.
A duty of 6 per cent is levied on import of gold. The total seizure of gold in 2010-11, before a duty was levied on its import, added up to Rs 9.34 crore. But this increased to Rs 20 crore in 2011-12.