Madras High Court today declined anticipatory bail to a 51-year-old man from Kerala, who feared arrest for smuggling luxury cars into India
Alex C Joseph (51) from Kerala had filed the application.
Counter-affidavits filed by CBI, Anti-Corruption Bureau and Deputy Director of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said he imported high value foreign cars for several years, permitted only on Transfer of Residence Rules under Customs Act.
After getting orders, he ordered cars at the foreign country with used car dealers and later hired Indian working class nationals being repatriated to India on cancellation of work permits. These cars would then be consigned to India via Chennai, Mumbai and Cochin ports in the names of these workers.
In this connection, CBI had conducted raids in 18 places including the residence of DMK treasurer M K Stalin.
Several cases have been registered against Joseph at various places in India by the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax, Customs, DRI and Kerala police. However, Joseph managed to escape from India and fled to UAE.
In Dubai, he established his business under a fictitious name and passport. He started a car dealership, apart from other businesses and kept pushing cars to India. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against him, when he landed at Hyderabad on November 6, 2011 under a fictitious passport in the name of Abey John. Documents recovered from him by DRI showed he was still involved in smuggled car business.
However, he was absconding from the date of registration of the FIR in the present case. Another LOC was issued to locate him in the event of his exit from India.
During investigation, 33 luxury cars like Rolls Royce, Range Rover, Land Cruiser Prado, BMW, Merecedes Benz and Hummer were seized by CBI, which includes vehicles reflected in the FIR in this case.
The probe was in the initial stage and Joseph's presence was essential to ascertain his role and that of other accused and also to know their modus operandi.
After submissions of CBI and DRI, Justice B Rajendran said he was dismissing Joseph's anticipatory bail application.
