CHENNAI: When 51-year-old Padma Amble Venkataramaiah disembarked from an Air India flight from Dubai on Saturday, she may not have expected to be so swiftly taken into custody. Venkataramaiah was allegedly wearing 25 crude thick gold chains, weighing close to 13kg, around her waist concealed beneath her kurta.
As she walked towards the exit of the arrival hall, she was intercepted by customs officials who suspected that she might be carrying gold or contraband either in her baggage or on her person. As she appeared to be nervous and was walking in a suspicious manner, she was taken for questioning, recalled the officials.
During interrogation, her answers were deemed unsatisfactory and so a personal search was done by a lady officer. Further searches reportedly resulted in recovery of as 25 gold chains as well as four gold kadas all of 24-carat purity, weighing 13kg and worth Rs 4 crore.
The gold jewellery was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Venkataramaiah was arrested. Further investigation is on, the customs officials said.