The Siliguri unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recovered gold worth ₹1.35 crores on Monday from the outskirts of Jalpaiguri.
The gold, DRI sources said, was smuggled into India from Bangladesh and was supposed to be delivered in Calcutta and some other places. A person carrying the gold was arrested in this connection.
Sources said Tapas Saha, a resident of Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district, was carrying the gold. As he reached Paharpur, on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town, the DRI team intercepted him. They searched Saha and found three rectangular gold bars in his possession.
“Altogether, the bars weigh 1.746 kilos. He was carrying those in specially-made pockets of his trousers. We checked with a goldsmith who confirmed that the bars are of 24 carat and the price is ₹1.35 crore,” said a source.
Ratan Banik, the lawyer representing DRI, said during preliminary interrogation, Saha revealed that the gold was smuggled through the India-Bangladesh border in Cooch Behar.
“It was supposed to be sent to Calcutta and some other locations,” he said.
On Tuesday, Saha was produced at a local court. Charges under the Customs Act were brought against him. The court heard the case and sent him in judicial custody till November 26, said Banik.
