Chennai: CBI anti-corruption branch personnel arrested V.R. Venkatachalam, chancellor of Sri Ramachandra University, in connection with the luxury car import scam here on Monday.
The CBI had filed two initial chargesheets last week naming Alex C. Joseph, the main accused, and 11 others, including Venkatachalam.
The case relates to import of high-end cars and SUVs, allegedly evading of customs duty. The same vehicles were sold to political families, including that of DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin and business houses owned by former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan.
Alex, 52, the high-profile car smuggler, was arrested from a five-star hotel in Delhi in February this year after he eluded the CBI for 11 months. He was questioned by the CBI and it is believed that Venkatachalam was arrested on the basis of disclosures by Alex that the chancellor was the main conspirator in the scam. Venkatachalam allegedly purchased nine imported vehicles through Alex.
CBI officials remained tightlipped about the fate of other customers of Alex. During investigation, the CBI identified 33 luxury cars imported in the last few years by Alex under the transfer of residence rules of the customs Act, evading nearly Rs 50 crore as customs duty.
He placed orders for cars from abroad through hired Indian working nationals being repatriated to India on cancellation of work permits.
These cars would then be sent to India through Chennai, Mumbai and Cochin ports in the names of these workers. Once these cars arrived in India, he would sell them to customers, thus evading huge customs duty.
