GLITTER OF GOLD...

Recently, in Hyderabad, the biggest jewellery showroom was opened by Joy Alukkas on the 30^th July, 2016. It caused a heavy traffic jam on the Rajbhavan Road, as the showroom was inaugurated by the Home Minister of Telengana State in the presence of CMD of the Joy Alukkas group. “Alukkas” is a popular brand in Kerala, which was started in 1960, by the father of Joy Alukkas, Shri A. J. Varghese, in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. Now, they are having their business interests in gold and real-estate in Dubai. 

In 2005, they had the biggest show room in T. Nagar, Chennai and now in Mumbai they have show rooms at Mulund, Vashi and Bandra. In 2002 they had 5 shops in Kerala and presently in South around 50 show rooms and more than 65 show rooms all over India. They are in the gold business since 1960.

They have inaugurated the showroom with an advertisement, wherein it is mentioned that each customer will get a chance to win the biggest name in luxury cars, 2 Mercedes Benz and a lot more other exciting prizes. The said owners are not actual manufacturers of gold & diamond jewellery, but, rather a procurer of gold and engaged in the sale of jewellery.

India is known as the highest producer of rice, but also a place where maximum ‘farmer suicides’ are happening. The procurer of grains or such traders never launched such type of scheme/s for luring their customers by offering a mercedez benz or for that matter, even a bicycle !!

While passing the GST bill Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasized that terrorism in the taxation will be stopped. Like Joy Alukkas, there are several mega jewellery brands having their mega showrooms all over India. The actual mining & production of gold in India is very small, which is a well known fact. We depend on the large-scale import of gold, either legally or illegally, for satiating this gold-craze.

In the early days, landings (gold smuggling) used to take place in the coastal areas and seizures were effected by various agencies. After the passage of time, gold has started coming through the air-route, through various airports like Kochi, Chennai, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Kolkatta, Calicut, Mumbai etc.. Comparatively where is the seizure? The route from Nepal and Bangladesh is no more a viable conduit. The operators from high seas prefer their ‘poppats’ (carriers) through air as it is faster for landing as well as their delivery at the destination.

Recently a seizure was effected by DRI, Mumbai at Igatpuri railway station, in a Mumbai bound train from Kolkatta. The quantity of the gold so smuggled was about 12kg. which was recovered from two carriers, who have confessed that they have delivered about 700 kgs of gold in the same manner, during the last one and half years. There may be several syndicates running such carriers and this needs an open introspection that when seizures are being made at Railway Stations and from various other places, apart from the several Airports, which appears to be giving a smooth passage to syndicates to run their nefarious activities.  

Our administration appears to be very happy with a image make-over, (based on complaints) rather than to implement the existing Rules, strictly without any discrimination and favour.

The great astronaut Mr. Neil Armstrong and his 2 other colleagues, when they returned from the moon, on 24^th July,1969 in Apollo-11 had to go through Customs and submit a declaration that they had brought from moon, samples of moon-rocks and dust, and the same was countersigned by the then Customs Inspector, to complete the formality. The said piece of paper is in circulation as evidence and a proud moment which the entire world appreciates. This is called the Rule of law exactly.

But in our country, especially at the International airports, are we strictly adhering or following the Law or are we there only for facilitation and/or salutation...

The attraction of gold in our country is ever increasing but due to the loose manner in the implementation of law, the smuggler not only gets away scot free but is also emboldened to run their syndicates in a mega manner. People are starving in our country and there are several projects of the Government that are held-up due to the financial crunch. But those who are in the business of gold are prospering many-fold.

Time has come to book these offenders whose actions are profusely bleeding our beloved Bharat Mata.

In earlier days, when there were limited resources and mechanisms, but action on the information/intelligence received was well thought-out to carry out numerous seizures. Now we are more advanced as compared to the earlier days, having the latest mechanisms & equipment, as well as several dedicated young officers who are ready to face any eventualities while carrying out their duties to enforce the Law, but our seniors should support them instead of tying their hands behind them with Conduct Rules, Sevottam, CPGRAMS, RTI etc. 

So what should be done… 

a) officers should be allowed to carry out their duties of implementing the existing laws & regulations, in a responsible manner and should not be linked to the receipt of complaints.

b)   The functioning of Customs at smaller airports,likepune,manglore Ahmadabat etc should also be tightened and there should not be any laxity in the implementation of Customs law. 

c) No officer is indispensible, continuing in the same formation / cell is only to provide comfort levels to the superiors and nothing else.   

d)   All the officers, posted to anti-smuggling agencies like DRI, M&P, ED, etc., on deputation, and who have completed more than a decade in these organizations, should be repatriated and fresh young officers are to be inducted in their place, so that the organization is  strengthened and made more effective.

    Thousands are dying in cancer due to tobacco but we cannot ban. But here who prevents to tighten the noose who are indulging day and night in draining out the exchequer. 
   
    When legendary Mr. Dayashankar was on duty it was cautioned at the Singapore Airport that Mr. DS is on duty. Where our Administration has failed to produce such type of Officer who is not only loyal dedicated but also tough in all the situations to prevail the law with a clear message that no one is above Law. 

   Hope the Administration is as active in listening to passenger complaints as to its officers...

   This article is dedicated to our beloved Dayashankar Sir, whose's Death Anniversary is tomorrow. His actions, contributions, style of developing intelligence will remain alive ever in the minds of the officers of the Department. 

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