KARACHI: The Customs Court has approved interim pre-arrest bail of suspects, Khalid Ahmed, proprietor of M/s Anees & Sons; Farhan Ahmed, proprietor of M/s Farhan Impex; and two others Ghulam Mehdi Nayani and Arif Shahban who were booked in 612,032 kilogram smuggled/ non-duty paid foreign origin betel nuts case worth Rs 1.5 billion.
During the hearing, the suspects filed bail petitions. After hearing the arguments, the court granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs 200,000 each and issued notices to the Customs Department for the next date of hearing.
Earlier, investigation officer appeared before the court and submitted FIR, according to the First Information Report (FIR) on credible information report, a team of customs department raided at a private godown namely Arbaz Godown situated at plot no A-41 near, police station, SITE Karachi and recovered 8,536 bags weighing 612,032 kilogram smuggled/ non-duty paid foreign origin betel (Areca) nuts of poor quality, infested and unfit for human consumption.
He informed the court that case was registered against Adnan, proprietor of M/s ABR Enterprise, Khalid Ahmed, proprietor of M/s Anees & Sons, Farhan Ahmed, proprietor of M/s Farhan Impex, Abdul Ghani Ronjah, proprietor of M/s Kiran Food Products, Farheen Irfan, proprietor of M/s Rohain Corporation, Ghulam Mehdi Nayani, Arif Shahban, Mansoor Ahmed, proprietor of M/s Dilwala & Company and others to be ascertained during the investigation.
He said that during the investigation, it was revealed that above mentioned suspects in connivance and collusion with each other and their other representatives, associates-in-crime have managed to store huge quantities of smuggled non duty paid foreign origin betel nuts unfit for human consumption in the private godown under the cover of import documents for illegal disposal of the same in local market have individually and collectively violated the import policy.
He submitted that further investigation is in progress, efforts are underway to arrest accused persons. The role of Representatives/ dealing persons and others associates in crime will be determined/ ascertained further during the investigation of the case.
After hearing the court taken on record the FIR, and directed him to arrest the suspects and submit charge sheet against above mentioned suspects on next date of hearing.
