MUMBAI: In the second such instance in a week, customs officials have seized Rs 25 lakh in new Rs 2,000 notes being smuggled out on Wednesday.
Arif Koyante was allegedly flying to Dubai with Rs 25 lakh concealed in 52 white envelopes inside 13 cardboard boxes filled with readymade garments.
Officials said Indian currency is accepted in some countries such as Hong Kong and Bangkok for small purchases. Besides, Indians employed in Dubai and Qatar prefer to get paid in Indian currency. Officials said after demonetisation, some individuals in these countries may have been demanding Indian currency and their Indian counterparts have been trying to fulfil their demand through “couriers” like Koyante.
Agencies have been trying to keep tabs on defunct notes lying with traders in these countries. Investigating agencies say these traders may be trying to get rid of these notes after sending them back to India through illegal channels. They have been unable to trace these channels, though.
Last Thursday, customs officials booked one Ashraf Veettil for allegedly carrying Rs 28 lakh to Dubai. The two recent cases indicate that large sums of unaccounted Indian currency are being sent abroad, say investigators. After demonetisation, it was believed that a large amount of unaccounted demonetised currency was stuck abroad. Customs officials suspect that hawala operators are taking the help of couriers to send them back to their counterparts in India. The agencies, though, are yet to get a lead on such operators.
