One more held in car import scam

The Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested one more person in the high-end luxury car import scam. Earlier, the DRI had arrested the alleged kingpin — Sumit Walia — in this connection. However, he was released on bail.

The Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested one more person in the high-end luxury car import scam.
Earlier, the DRI had arrested the alleged kingpin — Sumit Walia — in this connection. However, he was released on bail.

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So far, the DRI has recovered more than 40 high-end luxury cars in the scam.

According to sources, the arrested has been identified as Rajiv Sood, who allegedly acted as a conduit between some foreign diplomats and the main accused.

The DRI has detected two cases wherein Sood helped Walia to bring in two high-end cars — a Bentley and an Aston Martin — in the name of diplomats. Later, these cars were transferred to private persons in Delhi.

Interestingly, both these cars were found abandoned on the roads of the national Capital, when the DRI sleuths started investigating the matter.

The DRI has alleged that a duty evasion of Rs 2 crore has been found in these two cars only.

According to sources, foreign diplomats based in Delhi can bring any vehicle for their own use without paying any duty.
Investigators suspect that some diplomats were also part of the conspiracy.

Sood allegedly paid Rs 15 lakh to at least two diplomats for their services, sources said. He will be produced in the court on Wednesday.

Investigators suspect that some more embassies might also involved in the scam.