MUMBAI: Model and film actress Urvashi Rautela, was on Monday morning detained by Mumbai Customs officials, for carrying gold jewellery and goods worth R11.5 lakh without declaring them. She has been caught doing this for the second time.
At around 9.45 am, Rautela arrived from Dubai by Jet Airways flight 9W 579. She was found in possession of dutiable goods worth Rs 3.5 lakh and diamond-studded gold jewellery worth R8 lakh which she did not declare to Customs. The goods and jewellery are in the possession of Customs. She was fined and let off.
This is not the first time that the actress was caught by Mumbai Customs officials. Rautela was caught three months back for the same reason, and was let off after being fined for the items she was carrying illegally. Senior officials from Mumbai Customs confirmed that Rautela was caught by the same uniformed officer who had caught her last time.
“The actress was caught by a uniformed officer around three to four months back and a detailed examination revealed that she was smuggling items worth Rs 5 lakh. Since the items amounted to less than Rs 20 lakh, she was then fined and let off,” said a Customs official.
Officers told mid-day that Rautela was stopped, and her baggage was screened after which she was detained by the officers on Monday. A Mumbai Customs official said, “Initially, Rautela refused to pay the fine. She was not only aggressive but also non-cooperative with the officers.”
He further added, “The actress kept asking officers to let off every little thing she had bought and kept calling her connections to get herself excused from the fine.” “The valuation of the items is yet to be finalised. Hence the final fine to be imposed will be decided in a day’s time,” said Rajiv Ranjan, Additional Comm-issioner, Mumbai Customs.
The customs had roped in a government-approved valuer, who gave the value of the items (as given in this report) which Rautela was smuggling, revealed an officer. A Mumbai Customs official also told mid-day that Rautela’s visits to Dubai (both times) were very short trips (a day or two), and they were investigating the matter.
