A high ranking DRI official told myreoublica.com that some top officials at Tribhuvan International Airport, Birgunj and Tatopani customs offices have already been asked to furnish statements about their suspicious role in some recent incidents where a large volume of illegally imported goods was confiscated by the DRI.
This probably first-ever DRI investigation against government employees over their dubious role in helping businessmen evade taxes came after the DRI detained a large number of vehicles containing under-invoiced and customs-evaded imported goods in recent months. “Investigations revealed that tax evasion on such a scale was not possible without solid cooperation from customs officials,” said the official.
"We have already asked one officer and other three junior officers at TIA to be present for an enquiry in connection with a recent incident in which three out of 13 detained vehicles managed to escape," said the official. This week’s raids on a number of outlets at RB Complex and Suraj Arcade, both situated at New Road, were conducted on credible information that the goods from the three vehicles were taken to shops there, he said. “The role of some of the officials in all those incidents was highly questionable,” he said.
Likewise, some officials at Birgunj customs office have also been summoned for an enquiry by the DRI, said the official.
The official further said DRI is also planning to investigate tax officials after it found that some of tax claims made on the basis of fake documents were settled without proper investigation.
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