Kerala Government submits RTI question with Customs searching for particulars of controversial dates import

By PTI
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unprecedented transfer, the LDF authorities in Kerala has sought to know from the Customs division, by an RTI question, particulars of instances filed by the company in reference to the latest import of dates by the UAE consulate right here.

The transfer assumes significance within the wake of the Customs not too long ago registering two instances towards the state authorities for allegedly accepting consignments of the Holy Quran and 1000’s of kilograms of dates imported by the consulate officers for his or her private use by diplomatic channel.

It is probably the primary time that the state authorities is searching for particulars from a central investigating company by RTI like this.

Additional state Protocol Officer A P Rajeevan had submitted the RTI utility on January 28, asking six questions in reference to the Customs instances and the procedural particulars of such imports.

The authorities needed to know who was liable for the non-payment of Customs Duty when items, imported with out the fee of obligation to be used in diplomatic places of work like Embassies/Consulates, are in any other case used.

A reply was sought on the variety of instances by which prosecution has been launched earlier than initiating adjudication proceedings by the Customs Department within the state over the last two yearsin the matter of evasion of customs obligation.

The authorities needed to know the way many individuals had been served with summons below Section 108 of the Customs Act, 1962 in reference to the inquiry within the import of dates by the UAE Consulate right here.

The names and designation of such and the names of organisations by which they belong to had been sought by RTI.

The Customs was additionally requested to furnish particulars of the procedures the probe company has to comply with to make sure correct utilization of the products for issuing the exemption certificates.

Besides registering two instances towards the state authorities, Customs had additionally launched a probe into the function of “some powerful persons” who allegedly violated the legal guidelines.

Customs officers had mentioned the state authorities had accepted 18,000 kg of dates imported by the UAE consulate officers in Thiruvananthapuram in 2017 for his or her private use.

Similarly, consignments of the Holy Quran imported by the consulate had been additionally accepted by state authorities officers.

Officials mentioned there have been clear instances of violation of the Customs Act because the state authorities accepted these objects introduced by the diplomats for his or her private use by availing tax exemption certificates.

They mentioned the state authorities officers very effectively know that they’re forbidden from taking something from the international authorities.

The UAE consulate officers imported sure objects for his or her private use and the state authorities accepted these objects for distribution in sure locations.

So there’s a clear case of violation of sure provisions below the Customs Act, Money Laundering Act and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), they claimed.

The officers mentioned “some powerful persons” within the state authorities who accepted these objects as items for distribution in sure locations should be interviewed to get their clarification on the matter.

The Customs claimed that the state Protocol Department had granted tax exemption to the UAE consulate to import 18,000 kgs of dates in 2017 and over 4,000 kg baggage containing the Holy Quran in 2020 for the private use of the officers of the Arab nation once they utilized for a similar.

State Higher Education Minister Okay T Jaleel had been questioned by Customs on November 9 2020 over the alleged violation in accepting consignments of Holy Quran imported by the consulate officers for his or her private use.