Chennai: As part of their nationwide operation, the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) sleuths launched surprise checks on as many as 35 jewellers across Tamil Nadu. The drive is to keep a tab on jewellers cashing in on the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currencies and pushing gold into improper channels.
"We have been verifying the stock maintained by jewellers since November 7 and the duty paid on the same. We have received information that some of the jewellers were still accepting demonetised currencies for the sale of gold with a commission. Therefore, we have launched our surprise checks in leading jewellers in four major cities — Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchy. Based on the collection of details, we would pursue the defaulters as per law," said a senior DGCEI official.
The purview of the checks includes stocking, sale, duty paid and the mode of payment. A team of 35 senior intelligence officials ranging from the rank of ACP to DCP were part of this simultaneous drive. The official hinted that the checks would continue until Saturday evening, and it would take more than that to collate all the information collected from the jewellers.
The official refused to reveal any details regarding the outcome of the surprise checks which began on Friday morning. "We cannot disclose such details during the course of the investigation. Based on these checks, we would carry this forward to raids in order to strengthen the case, if any made out in this drive," the official said.
