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Customs allege Finance Ministry pressure to release detained luxury vehicles
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Even before the Customs conclude their investigations, pressure from the Finance Ministry has compelled them to release some of the 400 luxury vehicles seized for undervaluation. A number of vehicles have been cleared by importers, though a five-member committee comprising Customs and Finance Ministry officials appointed two weeks back, was yet to complete their probe.
Customs officials said that some of the vehicles have been cleared on the grounds that they will pay the taxes, if they are found guilty.The racket involves shipping brand new vehicles from Japan to UK and importing them into the country as used vehicles. The vehicles were detained after Customs officials considered them brand new vehicles, as some of them had run less than 100 kilometres.
The vehicles include BMWs, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Land Cruisers. Some of the vehicles had a market value of Rs 30 million, though they were declared to be around Rs 4 million. A senior Customs official said five leading vehicle importers were under investigation. The official said the relevant files had been handed over to the Finance Ministry, but they have not seen any progress in the investigations.
Some of the luxury vehicles detained by the Customs.