Big names surface in luxury car import scam

Sleuths of DRI claimed the involvement of business entities that use dummy names to import vehicles which are then re-purchased by other people. The names of a few politicians,celebrities and influential people have come to light and the agency now plans to asked them to deposit import duty that they evaded.

“The agency has come across several cases where the duty evaded runs into several crores. We are planning to send notices under Customs Act to those who have been identified,” said an official.

Officials also examined a New Delhi-based businessman,Sanjiv Aggarwal,who is alleged to have purchased a Bentley car from an embassy official. The car was seized by the DRI after it came to light it was imported in the name of a North Korean diplomat in New Delhi.

Under this arrangement,embassy officials provide an exemption certificate where no duty is imposed on the import of the vehicle. The North Korean embassy official is then learnt to have allegedly sold the vehicle to Aggarwal for a hefty commission. The deal was brokered by Walia,who is in judicial custody.

The DRI is learnt to have written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take up the matter with the North Korean and Vietnamese embassies.

The agency,which had so far seized nearly 41 top-of-the-line cars and some sports bikes,said they have also discovered several bank accounts that were used to make payments.

DRI’s Delhi Zonal head R K Sharma told The Indian Express,“It is an ongoing investigation and I cannot divulge details. However,investigations have revealed that ill-gotten money has been used to purchase high-end luxury cars.”