Police arrest 5 Indian nationals with fake customs documents

BIRGUNJ, Aug 29: Parsa police on Monday nabbed five Indian nationals with fake customs declaration forms. The Indian nationals were trying to get more than Rs 7.52 million transferred to India on the basis of those counterfeit documents.



The police nabbed Sandip Kumar Shah, Ramesh Kumar Shah and Aravinda Kumar Shah of Raxaul, and Sukesh Kumar Mishra and Mukul Bhusan Mishra of Motihari while they were about transfer the amount from the Birgunj branch of NIC Bank on the basis of nine fake customs declaration forms.[break]



“The customs office has confirmed that the declaration forms that the Indian nationals were carrying were fake,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rabindra KC told Republica.



The fake forms suggest they had exported goods like cumin seeds and computer parts to Nepal.



Police officials suspect that the Indian nationals could be using the fake documents to transfer illegal money from Nepal. As the case involves use of fake customs declaration forms, they also suspect revenue evasion in the case.



“We are forwarding the case to the Regional Revenue Investigation Office in Pathalaiya for further investigation,” KC said.



One of the arrested, Mukul Bhusan Mishra, said he was transferring the money to India as per the instruction of one Abhishekh Kumar of Raxaul.



Following the arrest, police have frozen the account that the Indian nationals held at NIC Bank.



Meanwhile, a local entrepreneur has tagged the case as an example of how nefarious people were getting their money transferred to India. According to the entrepreneur, about Rs 200 million was being illegally transferred to India every day from Birgunj alone.



“Use of fake customs declaration forms clearly suggests that it is a case of capital flight,” he added.

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