Bengaluru: The nexus between immigration officials and smugglers was exposed on Sunday, when the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested two immigration officials after they were caught helping gold smugglers. Two others, including a woman, have also been arrested in this connection and three kilograms of gold was seized.
The arrested immigration officials have been identified as Praveen Kumar and P. D. Katkar, while Arjunan Veloo, a Malaysian national, and Santhi Narayanan are the other accused.
According to DRI officials, Veloo and Santhi Narayanan had arrived from Kuala Lampur to Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday morning through a Malaysia Airlines flight. When checked, they were found carrying gold - two kg in bars/pieces and rest one kg as ornaments.
They had hid the gold in mobile pouch for handing it over to immigration official Praveen Kumar, who was deputed at the immigration counter.
“The accused duo, after handing over the gold to the official, would leave and the goods will be delivered by the officer to Katkar, who will be waiting outside. All the four have been arrested and the gold was seized. Further investigations are underway,” an official said.
