Ranjeet Kumar Vs Union of India (Patna High Court)
Patna High Court granted conditional bail to the accused involved in smuggling of foreign origin gold. Further, accused also directed to remain physically present in the given dates.
Facts- The petitioner has preferred this application for grant of regular bail in connection with Economic offences registered for the offences punishable u/s 135(1)(a), 135(1)(b) of the Customs Act.
Notably, a search was made by a constituted team at the residence of Kunal Kishore, recipient of foreign origin gold and in that course, US $1,24,000/- was recovered which was given to him by Md. Hassan (the petitioner) as commission from the sale proceeds of smuggled foreign gold. Thereafter, raid was conducted at the residence of Md. Hassan (the petitioner) and Rs. 8,40,000/- was recovered which was collected by him after delivery of smuggled foreign origin gold. One team of DRI Officers identified two staffs of AIASL, Gaya International Airport, namely, Arun Kumar and Pappu Kumar and Marshal Mr. Ko Ko Latt of Myanmar International flight No. 8M-601 and Marshal Mr. Htin Linn Phyo of flight No. UB-7001. Thus three packets containing 9 foreign origin gold bar were recovered from the possession of Marshal Mr. KO KO Latt which were handed over to Pappu Kumar and 3 packets containing 7 foreign origin gold bar were recovered from the possession of Marshal Mr. HTIN LINN PHYO. Thus total weigh of all the recovered 25 gold bars were 12004 grams worth Rs. 7,38,24,600/- as per the valuation and weight of the gold bars done by the goldsmith. The accused persons could not give reply satisfactorily regarding recovery of the above mentioned articles.
