The special CBI court has discharged Chandravanshi Manikanhaiya, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (C&CE), in a case registered over the alleged overvaluation of imported rough diamonds. The court ruled that “every procedural lapse cannot be termed as criminal conspiracy.”
The CBI had alleged that importers M/s Antique Exim Pvt Ltd and M/s Tanman Jewels Pvt Ltd inflated the value of low-quality rough diamonds imported from Hong Kong. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted 14 consignments and referred the matter to CBI, which accused Manikanhaiya of conspiring with others to clear these diamonds at inflated prices.
Manikanhaiya, however, argued that he was on leave from June 22 to June 27, 2018, and was unaware of the valuation process during that period. The court noted that the alleged valuation took place in his chamber, where no CCTV was present, but found no evidence linking him to the conspiracy.
Dismissing the charges, the court stated, “There is no prima facie material to show he was a conspirator. Even a procedural lapse cannot be attributed to him as he was on leave.”
