Mumbai: The smuggling of imported cars in Mumbai was busted by DRI.The agency has arrested the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a Gurugram-based luxury car dealer and two others in the case. So far, six luxury cars have also been seized. It is being told that these gangs used to import luxury cars using diplomatic privileges and later sold the cars. By exercising diplomatic privileges, they used to get exemption from customs duty, due to which the government has lost crores of rupees so far.
According to a report, a DRI operation named Monte Carlo carried out in seven cities has found that in the last five years, more than 20 luxury vehicles in the name of diplomats have been smuggled into India and later, private people. These cars were sold by private registration.
Imports made by foreign diplomats and missions in India are governed by the Foreign Privileged Persons (Regulation of Customs Privileges) Rules, 1957. The Government of India provides customs duty exemption on all imported goods to certain classes of members of diplomatic missions in India and their family members. As per the existing rules, customs duty on imported motor cars is 204 percent of the original price of a car.
According to the DRI, the mastermind of the smuggling racket is a man from Dubai. It has also been found in the investigation that luxury cars were imported into India from Britain, Japan, and UAE in the name of diplomats. Domestic registration for these vehicles was done at some Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. After registration, these cars were sold to Indian buyers.
During the investigation, the DRI has come to know about the car in the name of a Delhi-based diplomat of an African nation. Sources said that in this case, the imported car was put on display at a showroom in Andheri, Mumbai. DRI may seize many more cars in the coming days.
