Assistant Sub-inspector Rameshwor Yadav, who was posted at the customs office, was found to be getting regular kickbacks from the smugglers for helping them sneak in Indian goods by evading custom duties. [break]
Yadav´s involvement was revealed after the police arrested Amit Agrawal , areca nut dealer, on Sunday after being tipped off by the locals about the rampant smuggling of areca nut and cardamom from India.
Agrawal had conceded that he used to collect Rs 7,900 from each of five other businessmen including Shankar Paswan, Dinesh Paswan and Ashok Paswan to pay ASI Yadav Rs 39,500 annually.
In return, Yadav used to facilitate them to pass their illegal goods including areca nut and cardamom.
A businessman based in Gaur, the district headquarters, said that Agrawal was instrumental in collecting money from small business holders to bribe the Nepali and Indian security personnel at the boarder check point for the easy passage of the contrabands.
A police officer, insisting anonymity, also said that Agrawal used to regularly bribe the Indian and Nepali security personnel.
Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office Govinda Ram Pariyar informed that Agrawal has been released on the condition that he would present himself before the police office as and when summoned.
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