Where do you land up after importing 23 cars?
Jail – of course! Bhu in Jaisalmer of Rajasthan is an unknown village but 23 cars, including Mercedes, Toyota Amazon, Prado and BMWs, were imported by a non-existent hotel in this sleepy village and the cars have found their way into the garages of influential Netas and lalas. Nemesis in the form of Customs caught up with the resourceful importer who had been sent to judicial custody by a Delhi court till 15 September. The Customs would very much like to seize these cars (and maintain them on Rs 50/- per month as we reported yesterday), but they have no clue where these cars are and the accused would rather cool his heels in jail rather than tell them where they are. Customs counsel told the court that more such duty evaded cars may surface. In fact, DRI Zonal Unit and Jaipur Unit maintain that the prime accused Sanjay Bhandari has floated four firms to do such pre-contracted imports and lease them out even before they land in the country. So far as ECPCG obligations are concerned he has been charged with getting forex through hawala!