21 May,2026 10:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
During the trial, the prosecution examined 20 witnesses, including customs officials, bank representatives and private individuals. Representational Pic/File
A Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court in Mumbai has acquitted three of the four accused in a customs forgery and duty evasion case linked to the Air Cargo Complex, while convicting a customs clearing agent for cheating and forgery.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Special CBI Judge Amit V. Kharkar in connection with a 2017 case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the prosecution, the case involved forged import-export certificates, fake invoices and fraudulent customs clearances that allegedly caused a loss of Rs 3.14 lakh to the government.
The accused in the case were identified as customs examining officer Amit Omprakash Dangi, clearing agent Pradeep Prabhakar Rane, retired Customs House Agent associate Murari Shantaram Sawant and trader Manish Harbanslal Grover.
Investigators alleged that forged documents were used to clear consignments of mobile accessories through Air Cargo Complex near the Mumbai airport.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 20 witnesses, including customs officials, bank representatives and private individuals.
However, the court observed several shortcomings in the investigation. It noted that some seizure procedures were unreliable, one panch witness turned hostile and investigators failed to independently verify the seized goods or accurately calculate customs duty losses.
The court also observed that some consignments remained unsealed while in custody, raising concerns about possible tampering.
Despite acquitting three accused due to lack of direct evidence, the court found sufficient proof against clearing agent Pradeep Rane.
The court held that Rane knowingly used forged import-export certificates and fake documents to facilitate imports.
He was convicted under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and Section 468 for forgery.
The court acquitted customs officer Amit Dangi, stating that discrepancies in the consignments could not be conclusively linked to him because of procedural lapses in the investigation.
Murari Sawant and Manish Grover were also acquitted after the court found no substantial evidence proving their direct involvement in the alleged conspiracy.
Following the judgment, sentencing proceedings against convicted accused Pradeep Rane were conducted separately.
The court remarked that the investigation had been carried out in a casual manner, but ruled that the evidence against Rane was strong enough to establish his role beyond reasonable doubt.
