The Superintendent of Customs (Preventive) vs Abdulla Mohammed Gani

H. Suresh, J.—These two applications, made by the Superintendent of Customs, are for the purpose of cancellation of the order of anticipatory bail granted to each of the respondents on December 26, 1988.

It appears that on or about November 10, 1988 the custom authorities confiscated about 750 gold bars of ten tolas each, contained in an unaccompanied baggage at the Sahar Airport. When the customs authorities started investigation, the respondents came to this Court and made an application that they apprehended that they would be arrested by a customs authorities and that, therefore, they be released on anticipatory bail.

The learned Judge, who heard these applications, observed that there was nothing to connect them with the discovery of the said suit-case containing the contraband and that, therefore, in those circumstances he passed an order that if they are arrested they shall be released on bail in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000 each with one surety each.

But, the customs authorities have now investigated and they have been able to establish, prima facie, a link between the respondents and the contraband. The contraband is worth nearly Rupees three crores. The investigation carried on, so far, gives a new dimension to the case altogether. Their application is to enable them to investigate the case freely and without any undeserved advantage to the respondents.

In support of these applications Mr. Jaisinghani submitted that as far as Abdulla Mohammed Gani was concerned, he has two passports and he has produced only one passport, stating that the other is lost. His wife Mrs.T. Nazeem, the other respondent, has not produced any passport at all, stating that the passport has been misplaced. He has also pointed out that he air-way bill pertaining to the contraband has a certain address showing the name of the consignor as Vadakke Purakkal Bhaskaran with the address as P.O. Box No. 2235, Sharjah, U.A.E. The consignee''s name is also shown as the same person with the address as P.P. No. B-610039, Kalloorma Nanna Mukku, Malapuram, Dist. Kerala. P.O. Box No. 2235, Sharjah U.A.E., has been shown as the address of Mrs.T.Nazeem (respondent in Cri.Application No. 4 of 1989) in connection with a certain application made for the purpose purchase of a Maruti Car. Mr. Jaisinghani submits that this would, prima facie, show that the address at Sharjah of these respondents is the same as Shown in the airway bill. He further submitted that customs authorities have been able to trace the said Bhaskaran and he has made a statement implicating Abdulla Mohammed Gani. They have also traced two other witnesses, viz., Moidu and Khatri, who also have made statements implicating Abdulla Mohammed Gani. These statements also indicate that there is an attempt on the part of Abdulla Mohammed Gani to induce these witnesses to go underground for certain consideration of Rs.1,000/- per month. Mr.Jaisinghani submits that there are two other accomplices by name, Ravi Narvekar and Ali who have been absconding and they have yet to trace these persons.

As against this Mr.Jain submitted that the learned Judge had taken into account all the relevant facts while granting the anticipatory bail. He also submitted that before the application was made there was a panchanama made, of the house of Abdulla Mohammed Gani and the panchanama shows no incriminating circumstances. As regards the address at Sharjah, he stated that there are at least forty persons who have the same Box number. As regards Bhaskaran is concerned, he is bound to implicate any other person to save his skin. He says that his clients have nothing to do with those witnesses.

Mr. Jain submitted and Abdulla Mohammed Gani is a very respectable person and he is the Managing Director of Hotel Sands which is a Five-Star Hotel at Juhu. He is a social worker and he is the Chairman of Fatima Hospital at Calicut. His wife is also a social worker and she is the Director of Fatima Scan and Research Centre at Calicut and has a good reputation in the society. He is also a member of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India. He further submitted that there is no likelihood of the respondents absconding. They have co-operated so far in the investigation and they will not come in the way of further investigation. They have also attended the office of the customs authorities everyday and in these circumstances it is not necessary that bail order should be cancelled.

I am not inclined to accept the submissions made by Mr. Jain. It is true that Abdulla Mohammed Gani has a status. So also his wife Mrs.T. Nazeem. But for aught we know the status might be a very deceptive factor. Their Sharjah connections cannot be ruled out The fact the their address at Sharjah is the same as about forty others, docs not speak well of their status. Apparently their status is a recent acquisition since 1986. Our experience tells us that philanthropy is very often a camouflage and a cloak for very many nefarious activities. I do not say that they are guilty, but I think, the customs authorities are justified in their demand that they should have a free hand in their investigation.

So also I do not agree that the panchanama is all that innocent. Perhaps a further investigation and scrutiny may bring out many other things. The fact that Bhaskaran and the other witness have implicated the respondents cannot be considered as a mere act of passing the buck on somebody else. On the other hand it establishes a direct link between the contraband and the respondents. The investigation is now at the crucial stage. If the respondents are allowed to remain out, having regard to their finance, status and perhaps their contacts, the investigation is bound to be throttled. The charge being one relating to economic drain of this country, the matter cannot be considered as a case of mere suspicion.

However, as far as Mrs.T. Nazeem is concerned, I do not propose to detain her in custody, particularly so she being a woman. I would grant her bail on a fairly reasonable amount according to the facts of the case, and not on the basis of a mere sum of Rs. l,00,000/-.

I, therefore, pass the following order:

I cancel the bail granted to Abdulla Mohammed Gani on December 26, 1988 and I direct that he be taken into custody by the customs authorities for the purpose of investigation.

As far as Mrs.T. Nazeem is concerned,

I cancel the order dated December 26, 1988 and in its place I order, that if she is arrested, she be released on laid in the sum of Rs. 10,00,000 with one surety in the like amount.

I further direct that Mrs.T. Nazeem on her being released on bail, shall attend the office of the customs authorities whenever called upon by the customs authorities.