KARACHI: The Custom (Taxation & Anti-Smuggling) Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi granted interim pre-arrest bail to the accused/applicant namely Khurram Iqbal son of Muhammad Iqbal who is booked in mega tax evasion case.
During the hearing, counsel for accused/applicant filed an application for pre-arrest bail and submitted that his client is innocent and was falsely implicated in this case, he further argued that his client is ready to face trail, therefore, court may grant his bail.
After the hearing, court granted his bail and observed in its order that, “without touching the merits of the case , ad-interim pre-arrest bail is granted to accused Khurram Iqbal subject to furnish surety in the sum of Rs. 2, 00, 000 with P.R bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of this court, court issued notice to the special prosecutor for customs department and call police papers, court also directed the accused to join the investigation if and when required by the investigation officer and appear before the court on February 16, 2017.
It needs to be pertained here that 3 accused persons namely Syed Muhammad Rizwan, Proprietor of M/s Unique Enterprises, Samiullah, Proprietor of M/S Lucky Diamond Enterprises and Shahryar are already on physical remand till February 06, 2017 and now accused Khurram Iqbal approached the court and was grated interim bail in this case.
On last date of hearing, investigation officer had produced above named 3 accused persons before the court and informed that accused persons were involved in mis-declaration of value of imported HS Code & value of imported PVC flakes/ recycled granules & clearance of the same in the garbs of iron/steel remeltable scrap, therefore, above named accused persons found evasion of duty and taxes in the tune of Rs. 1, 463, 698.
He had stated that investigation has not been completed yet, therefore, prosecution needs their physical remand, after the hearing, court had sent them to custom department till February 06, 2017 on physical remand and directed the investigation officer to produce them on next date of hearing along with progress report.
According to the prosecution, case was registered complainant Aqil Alam, intelligence officer, directorate general intelligence & investigation-FBR in violation of section 16, 32 (1) & (2) 79 (1) of the customs act 1969, punishable under section 156 (1) (9) (14) (43) ibid read with section 3, 6, 32, 34 of the sales act 1990 further read with section 148 of the income tax ordinance 2001.
