The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court on Friday sent Customs Assistant Commissioner S Anil Kumar and his driver Rejith alias Jikku in CBI custody for five days.
Both were arrested for receiving money and gifts from T K Fayaz, alleged gold smuggler.
The CBI submitted before the court that Anil Kumar had received financial assistance from Fayaz for his marriage last month.
The CBI said it has recovered an LED TV, treadmill, watch and several crockery items gifted by Fayaz to Anil Kumar.
“The case against Anil Kumar is not just of receiving monetary gain, but of misusing his position as a public servant. Anil Kumar had used Fayaz’ car for a month for his marriage purpose. Rejith was the driver of the car.
When the CBI registered a case against Customs officials, Anil Kumar had shifted Fayaz’ gifts to Rejith’s house. The money was deposited to bank accounts maintained by several people in various banks, which Anil Kumar could not identify,” the CBI submitted.
It also filed the case diary before the judge in which details of gifts received by Anil Kumar was given.
The CBI also said that when the accused was serving as an official in Customs Intelligence, Fayaz had gifted him a 63-inch LED TV.
For getting further details, the five days of custody were necessary.
Counsel for Anil Kumar, Geo Paul submitted that he was well known for his sincere service and had even received 10/10 for his performance last year.
He also submitted copies of an SMS sent by the Additional Director General of DRI, John Joseph, to Anil Kumar introducing Fayaz and giving details of the flight in which Fayaz had arrived at Nedumbassery airport on April 14 this year.
In the SMS, John Joseph had also requested him to do the needful help.
He also produced phone call details between John Joseph and Anil Kumar in which Fayaz has been mentioned.
Mixed Day for Arifa, Asifa
Kochi: It was mixed fortune for Arifa and Asifa, accused in the Nedumbassery gold-smuggling case, on Friday as while on one hand the CBI special court granted them bail in the case registered by the CBI, on the other hand the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) dismissed their bail petitions in another case registered by the Customs Department in the same incident.