Foreign notes: Jeweller alleges assault in custody by DRI officials

A jeweller, arrested in a foreign currency racket case, in which three persons were earlier nabbed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI)Airport purportedly hiding 3.9 lakh Euros in their rectums, has alleged before a Delhi court that he was beaten up by DRI officials in custody.

However, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) prosecutor has denied the accused person’s allegation of assault by its officials. The  prosecutor said before being produced in the court, the accused was medically examined at the RML Hospital and no such incident has taken place.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Sumit Dass, however, directed that the accused, Shakti Mehta, be taken to AIIMS for a medical examination and sent him to judicial custody till November 25.

Advocate Ashutosh, appearing for Mehta, moved a bail plea, contending that the DRI had procured a false medical record from RML Hospital. The bail plea would come up for hearing on November 15.

According to the DRI, three men were caught at the IGI Airport in October, hiding 3.9 lakh Euros – equivalent to Rs 2.9 crore – in their rectums. The money was wrapped in plastic pouches and inserted into their body cavity, it said. They were accused of carrying foreign currency abroad and during interrogation, they claimed they were doing so at Mehta’s behest. 

Mehta’s counsel sought bail, claiming that he was forced to make some statements under the DRI Act, which were incorrect and not voluntary. He alleged that nothing incriminating was recovered from his house in Panipat or jewellery shop, which was illegally sealed by DRI officials.

The counsel also sought the court to take cognizance of the alleged illegal acts of DRI officials and action against RML Hospital officials for giving false medical certificate.