The blue-eyed beauty may be busy stepping into Jodha Bai’s shoes — with Hrithik Roshan as Akbar for company, but a mysterious packet from the Netherlands has landed actress Aishwarya Rai into trouble with the Customs department.
The Customs found 23,000 euros (nearly Rs 14 lakh) in a parcel addressed to her by post from the Netherlands. The department has summoned her to its Ballard Pier office to explain the “packet”.
The parcel, which arrived from Rotterdam at the end of September, was marked to Ash’s old Khar residence. Officials in the department said the parcel grabbed their attention because it contained “electronic goods”, according to a declaration letter.
When persistent enquiries elicited no response from the actress, they opened the parcel and found a DVD player, a pair of binoculars, a Ralph Lauren polo sports T-shirt and other electronic goods. Tucked between all them was an envelope containing the Euros.
A.K. Prasad, Commissioner, Customs (Import), told the Hindustan Times on Tuesday that “a white envelope with the euros was placed between the electronic goods in the same packet.”
The parcel bore Aishwarya’s name and the address of her Ram Laxmi Niwas building residence on 16th Road in Khar. Aishwarya does not live there, though she retains the apartment. Commissioner Prasad said the “electronic items were declared, but there was no mention of the currency.” The parcel weighed around 16.5 kg and the items were valued at 1,000 euros. The weight of the envelope containing the currency was around 100 grams.
{{/usCountry}}The parcel bore Aishwarya’s name and the address of her Ram Laxmi Niwas building residence on 16th Road in Khar. Aishwarya does not live there, though she retains the apartment. Commissioner Prasad said the “electronic items were declared, but there was no mention of the currency.” The parcel weighed around 16.5 kg and the items were valued at 1,000 euros. The weight of the envelope containing the currency was around 100 grams.
{{/usCountry}}Prasad said the actress was given two weeks’ time to be present at the customs office so that the package could be opened in her presence. But she did not respond and the package was opened in front of witnesses. The Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch (SIIB) is probing the case.
manish.pachouly@hindustantimes.com