CBI Vs Customs: CBI has no 'intention' of interfering with work of Customs
A press release issued by CBI yesterday reads,
Reports have been published in a section of the media alleging that a person was reportedly 'shielded' by a senior CBI Officer in Mumbai from Customs officials at Mumbai airport.
The CBI wishes to clarify that no officer or staff of the CBI has any intention of interfering with the work of the Customs Department. It appears that the said CBI officer was presented with some unverified version of events by the person reportedly being checked by Customs officials at Mumbai Airport.
What is the story behind this?
A couple of weeks ago a passenger fully drunk landed up in Mumbai airport from London and he dropped the names of some top officers including CBI Joint Director in Mumbai and is said to have abused the customs officers. He had a recommendation from the Chief Commissioner, Bhopal to treat him as a VIP. This VIP passenger had on an earlier occasion been arrested under COFEPOSA and was in jail for nearly seven months. The Customs officer conducted a medical test on the passenger and took him to the Sahar Police Station to lodge a complaint. Then the CBI Joint Director called up the Customs officers and they dropped the complaint. It seems the Customs Commissioner at the airport has made a complaint to the CBI director against the Joint Director who allegedly interfered in their work and even threatened some junior officers.