Indian Court grants bail to sisters in gold smuggling case

MUMBAI (Scrap Monster): The Pune Court of chief judicial majistrate on Monday granted bail to two sisters who were arrested by Airport Customs officials for trying to smuggle gold worth nearly Rs 48 lakhs. The conditional bail was granted upon furnishing Rs 50,000 release bond and a surety of equal amount.

According to Customs Department, the two women from Mumbai- Bushra Banu Mohammad Ismail Shaikh and Naziya Mohammad Hanif Shaikh had landed the Lohegaon airport on Sunday from Dubai. They tried to clear themselves through the green channel by providing nil customs declaration.

However, upon examination, dutiable gold items worth nearly Rs.48 lakhs were recovered from their body and baggage. The officials seized gold biscuits concealed in laptop adaptors. In addition, they were found wearing gold chains and bangles exceeding allowed limits, when valued by official valuer. The two accused were produces before the magisterial court on Monday. After brief hearing, the court ordered to remand the two sisters in judicial custody till Sep 12^th. Later, their bail pleas were granted by the court.

The accused claimed that they had gone to Dubai on a sight-seeing tour.