The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken a big step in cracking down on a major gold export fraud at Chennai Airport. The agency has filed an FIR against 13 people involved in a scam that allegedly defrauded the Indian government of over Rs 1,000 crore between 2020 and 2022.
This fraud involved a group of Customs officials, gold traders, and jewellery manufacturers working together. Among those named are three Customs Superintendents—J. Sureshkumar, Alok Shukla, and P. Tulasiram—as well as a jewellery assessor, customs agent, and four gold jewellery makers.
The investigation revealed that these accused imported 24-carat gold bars under a special Duty-Free Import Authorization (DFIA) scheme. This scheme required that the gold be turned into 22-carat ornaments for re-export. However, instead of following the rules, the scammers exported fake or substandard gold jewellery, such as gold-plated brass and copper ornaments, earning illegal profits and causing huge losses to the government.
The scam came to light in 2022 when authorities noticed irregularities in bill of lading documents for shipments heading to Gulf countries. Physical checks revealed that the jewellery was not genuine gold but fake or poor-quality items.
Following these discoveries, the Central Revenue Intelligence (CRI) recommended a CBI investigation. Although there was some delay due to the need for official approval, the government recently authorized the probe. The CBI has since carried out searches at Chennai Airport Customs Cargo Office, as well as the homes of Customs officials in Pallavaram, Alandur, Nanganallur, and Anna Nagar. They also raided jewellery shops and manufacturing units in Flower Bazaar, Sowcarpet, and Kondithope.
During their investigation, CBI officials examined the equipment used for testing gold, including the XRF Spectrometer, and seized important documents that could shed more light on the scam.
This case points to weaknesses in customs checks and how trade schemes are being misused. Authorities believe more suspects could be caught as the investigation continues. The scam is considered one of the biggest financial crimes linked to airport cargo operations in India.
Stay tuned for updates as the case develops, and understand how this scandal exposes challenges in India’s customs and export systems.
