ABLA DID THIS CRIME FOR BREAD AND BUTTER .... LET HER GO .... .WHERE IS NCW .... GIVE HER ECONOMICAL FRONT ... . . . BUT . . PUNISH HARD : Direct DIL se ---------------------- Businesswoman smuggled in Rs 30cr jewellery in 2 years MUMBAI: Businesswoman Vihari Sheth, arrested last August for trying to smuggle in diamond-studded gold jewellery in her innerwear and a high-end wristwatch collectively valued Rs 2.05 crore, had formed a syndicate with her uncle Jiten Seth, Directorate of Revenue Intelligences show-cause notice said. Vihari, partner of Singapore-based Vihari Jewels Pte Ltd, was arrested on her arrival at the Mumbai airport. She apparently indulged in smuggling of diamonds and diamond-studded gold jewellery worth Rs 30 crore in the past, the notice said. Vihari has made 32 visits to Mumbai in 28 months, beginning March 2011, and evidence show that she was in the habit of smuggling gold jewellery or diamonds from Singapore. Vihari has been employed as a conduit by her family in India and Singapore to smuggle in jewellery and sell them through their family showroom in Mumbai, the notice said. Jiten is director of Vihari Jewels, owns Rajesh Brothers and also a partner in Tisya Jewels, Bandra. Jiten Sheth was an active member of the said smuggling syndicate; he was acquiring the smuggled jewellery from Vihari Sheth and facilitating the sale of the same in the domestic market through his jewellery showroom, the notice stated. Officials found that Vihari Jewels had unaccounted stock of 41 pieces diamond-studded gold jewellery, which was smuggled into the country by Vihari. Jiten later produced bills to show that the unaccounted jewellery was procured from Vir Gems, owned by Jitendra Katera. But Katera denied supplying the jewellery and told DRI officials that the bills were supplied as they were friends. Jiten has paid Rs 1.3 crore towards duty liability though retracted his statements confirming smuggling. He has also been issued the showcause notice. Vihari is educated and was aware of the customs regulations. Given her background, the fact that she attempted to smuggle in high-value diamond-studded gold jewellery by concealing the same in her upper and lower inner garments indicates that she was doing so consciously and as a part of pre-meditated plan to smuggle high-value precious goods to evade duty and also for unaccounted transactions, the notice added. DRI is also probing the role of her parents, Rajesh Sheth and Manisha Sheth, both based in Singapore. Rajesh is partner of Vihari Jewels Pte Ltd Singapore while Manisha is the managing director of House of Gems, Singapore. Both have refused to appear before DRI officials. An non-bailable warrant was issued against both of them. Vihari was in custody for 57 days before the Bombay high court released her on bail. Jitens anticipatory bail application is pending in the high court after the sessions court rejected his plea. DRI has sought imposing fine on Vihari and Jiten. Additional customs commissioner will adjudicate the case after hearing both parties. timesofindia.indiatimes/city/mumbai/Businesswoman-smuggled-in-Rs-30cr-jewellery-in-2-years/articleshow/29575421.cms
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 04:33:51 +0000
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