Bollywood actress and model Kim Sharma was fined by Customs officials for not declaring goods worth Rs 4 lakh that came into the rustic on a chartered flight sans Sharma from Dubai yesterday.
The private aircraft had only her baggage, and Sharma and her husband Ali Punjani, a Kenyan businessman of Indian origin, were to board the aircraft at Mumbai for an African destination.
The aircraft, that is owned by Sharma, landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport within the morning, and was scheduled to go away at 2 pm with the couple
Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Airport Customs, headed by its Deputy commissioner, Sameer Wankhede, entered the aircraft and conducted a check, which led to them discovering the undeclared baggage.
“Her aircraft came from Dubai on Wednesday morning and it was carrying her luggage including expensive purses and other items. We had prior information, and intercepted the bags from the aircraft.
As the actress herself was not traveling within the aircraft, the items weren't alleged to be on board. The pilot was interrogated who stated that the bags belongs to the actress. The actress who later arrived on the airport accepted that the baggage was hers, ” said a Customs official from AIU, on condition of anonymity.
Customs Commissioner, P M Saleem said, “As per the information the pilot isn't allowed to hold her baggage in her absence. Duty was imposed at the seized items before it was handed over to the party.”
The flight finally took off with the couple for its destination after 6 pm.
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
