The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have stumbled upon a Rs 100-crore scam linked to the fraudulent import of luxury cars in the past few days.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have stumbled upon a Rs 100-crore scam linked to the fraudulent import of luxury cars in the past few days.
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When contacted, the DRI officials were tight-lipped about the developments. "It is a very big scam and some people have already paid hefty fines,'' said an officer. At least 70 imported cars and SUVs have come under the scanner after preliminary investigations.
A majority of imported vehicles that enter the Indian market are stolen in the US, Canada and Europe and then smuggled to Dubai. The chassis number and other identification marks are changed to dispel doubts.
A dealer then imports the car for tourism purposes to avoid high tax levied by the Customs. Many of the smuggled vehicles have been bought by Bollywood celebrities. There are more than 100 unclaimed imported cars parked inside a Customs-notified area near Dockyard Road.
How it works
- The car is generally booked under an immigrant labourer's name who is asked to sign some papers and rewarded with a hefty amount
- Fake agreements are made in the name of the prospective owner once the vehicle is smuggled into the country.u00a0
- Inside the dock premises, old cars replace the new ones.
- The new cars are driven out after fixing the registration number plates of the old car with the connivance of a few clearing agents and car dealers.
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