Socialite detained at airport with Rs 50L jewellery

Mumbai:Businesswoman and socialite Sheetal Mafatlal was detained by customs officials at Mumbai airport on Sunday morning for trying to evade duty by not declaring diamond jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh. After her London flight landed, Mafatlal chose to exit through the green channel, only to be intercepted by officials who found dutiable goods in her hand baggage.
Sheetal Mafatlal, president of Mafatlal Luxury Ltd and wife of industrialist Atulya Mafatlal, had flown in from London on a British Airways flight shortly after midnight. She was intercepted by customs officials around 12.45 am on Sunday.
Under the Indian Customs Act of 1962, personal jewellery carried in hand baggage or any jewellery worn on person — irrespective of its cost — does not attract customs duty.
‘‘As long as it looks like personal jewellery there is no duty on it. Spot examination counts the most in such cases. It covers details like how the jewellery items are packed, how they are placed inside the bag and whether they look new or used,’’ the official said, adding Mafatlal was detained under the baggage rules of Customs Act.
Under the baggage rules, valuables attract a 37% duty and if one is caught evading it, then the duty, along with a fine to redeem goods and penalty for personal conduct, is levied.
The period of detention in such cases could last for hours as it involves interrogation, verifying the value of goods and finding out at what price was it bought. Approved valuers from the Gemological Institute of India and Export Promotion Council were called in and the jewellery was valued at Rs 50 lakh, the official said.
08/06/09 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2009