Customs penalise actor Kim Sharma for not declaring goods

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs on Wednesday penalised actor Kim Sharma after her husband’s chartered flight, which arrived from Dubai, was found to be carrying branded items worth Rs. 4.5 lakh.

The chartered flight had come from Dubai to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at around 2pm to carry Kim Sharma, who was on her way to an African country. She had to pay Rs. 50,000 as penalty for not following procedure in declaring the goods, and was then allowed to fly with her goods.

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According to procedure, once a flight has landed at an Indian airport, the plane’s owner or pilot has to declare the chartered plane as well as the goods, if any, purchased from abroad and in the flight.

Customs officials said they searched the aircraft after it landed and found branded purses and other household items in the plane.

The staff immediately informed AIU officials. An AIU team headed by deputy commissioner of Customs Sameer Wankhede also inspected the aircraft. They found that the owners were not on the flight and only the pilot was there.

In his statement to the AIU, the pilot said the goods belonged to Kim, who was to board the flight.

When she came to the airport, Sharma agreed the goods belonged to her. Officials said Sharma was penalised as the owner of the goods had not been accompanying them. Further, the pilot also failed to declare the goods on landing.