Siliguri, 10th February: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) foiled a major diamond smuggling attempt and arrested one person with diamonds worth over Rs 4 crore from Bagdogra Airport. The arrested accused has been identified as Delhi resident Deepak Sukhlal Mehta.
According to DRI sources, the accused had entered India from Nepal through the Indo-Nepal border carrying diamonds and was preparing to travel to Delhi. Based on suspicion, he was intercepted near Bagdogra Airport and later brought to the DRI office in Siliguri for questioning.
During a search conducted in the presence of a gazetted officer, DRI officials recovered diamonds weighing 808.35 carats (161.66 grams) from the accused’s bag. The accused failed to produce any valid documents related to the diamonds. The seized diamonds have been valued at Rs 4,33,14,600 in the international market.
Sources said Deepak Sukhlal Mehta had arrived in Bagdogra from Delhi a few days earlier and then travelled to Nepal. He allegedly brought the diamonds back into India through the Indo-Nepal border and was attempting to fly to Delhi from Bagdogra Airport.
DRI has registered a case against the accused under Sections 104 and 135 of the Customs Act. He was produced before a Siliguri court on Friday, where, after hearing arguments from both sides, the judge remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
DRI counsel Ratan Banik stated that the agency has recently foiled several gold smuggling attempts and that smugglers are now shifting focus to diamond smuggling. He added that the involvement of an international syndicate in the case cannot be ruled out and that further investigation is underway.