Misuse Green Channel at Airport, Face Prosecution

New Delhi: Supreme Court has put a full stop on people using the green channel to bring in goods without paying duty. Monday's ruling undercuts the assumption of those taking the "green channel" when they should be using the "red" that they can, if caught, get away by paying the customs duty and a fine.
Writing the judgment for the Bench, Justice Kapadia agreed with solicitor-general G E Vahanvati that compounding of offence ? it enables offenders to escape punishment if they cough up penalty ? is based on "Principles of Disclosure" which come into force only if the declaration is honest. "The basic rule of disclosure underlying Section 137(3) of the Act is that if there are demonstrable contradictions or inconsistencies or incompleteness in the case of the applicant, then application for compounding cannot be entertained. Applications for compounding ought to be disallowed if there are such contradictions, inconsistencies or incompleteness," it said.
This ruling came in a case pertaining to one Anil Chanana, who was intercepted by customs officials at IGI airport on August 10, 2004. On personal search, he was found to have smuggled in two pairs of diamond ear-rings worth Rs 1.16 crore.
30/01/08 Times of India/Daijiworld.com

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Categories: Airports Jan 2008