By TIOL News Service

KOLKATA, JULY 03, 2019: AFTER detention of Ashok Jalan and Amit Jalan under COFEPOSA Act in gold smuggling case, further probe has revealed that Ashok Jalan’s average daily transactions of smuggled gold ranged from 8 Kg to 16 Kg per day.

As per the DRI Press Release, Amit Jalan who happens to be the nephew of the alleged mastermind, Ashok Jalan, is also his close confidant or right hand man. He was entrusted to carry out the instructions and orders of the mastermind in a discreet, but highly effective manner. The uncle nephew combination was instrumental in successfully ferrying huge quantity of smuggled gold from various bordering locations.

Ashok Jalan who is a commerce graduate rose from the ranks of a petty businessman of tooth brush and washing brush, waded through the ranks of broker of gold and silver, distributor of cosmetics, mustard oil, sarees and properties to his present status of hawala operator and gold smuggler. In course of his foray in the business of sarees, he also obtained Import Export Code Number from DGFT in the names of various saree business entities.

The Press Release further states that in connection with his ostensible export business and smuggling activities, he travelled to various countries and made acquaintances in different countries who were involved in illegal money transfer business, i.e., hawala. Gradually, he got involved in hawala transactions with operators of Bangladesh who operated through Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. As per requirement of a customer he arranged for TT (Telegraphic Transfer) of RMB or USD to specific account outside India (mainly at Bangladesh, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong) on commission basis.

It has also been ascertained that Ashok Jalan was detained twice under COFEPOSA in the years 1994 and 2002 in connection with cases booked by the Enforcement Directorate concerning unauthorized dealings in foreign exchange and receipts and payments of hawala money. This is the third time that Shri Ashok Jalan is being detained under COFEPOSA.

In the light of Ashok and Amit Jalan’s long history of being involved in gold smuggling, hawala racket and other illegal activities over an inordinate length of time and at such a large scale, Government of India has issued a Detention Order under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act, 1974 to detain Ashok Jalan and Amit Jalan, with a view to preventing them from smuggling of goods and has ordered to lodge them at Presidency Correctional Home, Alipore, Kolkata.

The duo have accordingly been detained on 02.07.2019 and kept in Presidency Correctional Home, Alipore, Kolkata.