Posted:
| ASH IN CASH TROUBLE: The Customs department has called the star for questioning after a packet in her name containing undeclared 23,000 Euros was received by the Mumbai Foreign Post Office (Reuters Photo) |
MUMBAI: The Customs department has called Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai for questioning in connection with a packet in her name that contained undeclared 23,000 Euros (Rs 13 lakh) in hard currency, received by the Foreign Post Office here.
"We have called Ms Rai to our office for questioning but no case has been registered in this matter so far", said A K Prasad, Customs Commissioner (Imports).
The packet came from a gentleman in the Netherlands and was addressed to Aishwarya Rai. It also had a declaration attached to it that it contained electronic items, which was found to be true. However, it also contained a white packet containing some foreign currency which was not declared, Prasad added.
"So definitely, there is some mis-declaration. So, we are trying to establish whether she (Rai) is aware of it or she is part of it or it's done without her knowledge", Prasad said.
However, it is unfair to say one way or the other about her involvement without questioning her, he said.
"We have called Ms Rai to our office for questioning but no case has been registered in this matter so far", said A K Prasad, Customs Commissioner (Imports).
The packet came from a gentleman in the Netherlands and was addressed to Aishwarya Rai. It also had a declaration attached to it that it contained electronic items, which was found to be true. However, it also contained a white packet containing some foreign currency which was not declared, Prasad added.
"So definitely, there is some mis-declaration. So, we are trying to establish whether she (Rai) is aware of it or she is part of it or it's done without her knowledge", Prasad said.
However, it is unfair to say one way or the other about her involvement without questioning her, he said.
The packet addressed to Rai landed in the Foreign Post Office a month ago, Prasad said, adding "after that we started a preliminary inquiry". He did not divulge the identity of the sender.
Under the Customs Act and FEMA, receiving an amount above Rs 5,000 by post is an offence which can attract a maximum punishment of three years in jail and fine, Prasad said.
He said a case can be said to be registered in such a matter only when a show cause notice is issued. So far, no such notice has been issued to Rai, he said.
There has been no communication from the actress in this regard, he went on to add. Prasad was hopeful that Rai would pay a visit to the Customs office sometime next week in order to help with the probe
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