Probe into textiles import led to peas scam

Officials were piqued by Delhi importer bringing goods from Dubai via Chennai; probe reveals link with customs officer

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR @Chennai

AN investigation by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths from New Delhi at the Chennai Port around two weeks ago into the mis-declaration of imported textile fabric gave them the lead to bust the green peas scam wherein a 39-year-old additional commissioner of Chennai Customs was sent to prison on Thursday, sources said.

The modus operandi in both cases was similar: mis-declaring goods to clandestinely import restricted items, sources said. In the textile fabric case, certain kinds of textiles which attracted a Minimum Import Price (MIP), like polyester-woven fabric, were allegedly declared as cotton-woven fabric and imported through Chennai Port by importers based in Northern states, despite other ports in the vicinity.