KARACHI: The Customs Court issued non-bailable warrants against absconding suspects namely Shahid Kamran of M/s Kamran Enterprises and Muhammad Nehal Rafi son of Muhammaf Rafi, who were nominated in first information report (FIR) of evasion of duty and taxes and getting delivery of goods by submitting fake/forged pay orders.
On 16 November2020, during the hearing, investigation officer submitted that above mentioned both suspects are still absconders, however, a suspect Mohsin is in custody and Muhammad Saleem, representative of clearing agency namely M/s Kanwal Enterprises is on pre-arrest interim bail.
He further stated that prosecution trying its best for arrest of absconding suspects, therefore, court may grant further time, after the hearing, court issued non-bailable warrants against absconding suspects and directed investigation officer to arrest and produce them before the court for the next date of hearing.
Earlier, investigation officer stated that pay orders were received for the provisional assessment of consignment of above mentioned importer against goods declaration which contained assorted pile fabrics and their accessories while claiming the benefit of SRO 1125(1)/2011 for release @ zero rating of sales tax.
He stated that the importer requested for provisional release hence was required to submit pay order for the differential amount, between sales tax difference of 0% and 9% along with the difference in value of finished and unfinished fabric, for assessment of their consignment in terms of section 81 of the customs act.
Investigation officer further submitted that a suspicion was raised while scrutinizing pay order, the Collectorate verified the pay order form the concerned bank through their letter, unverified the authenticity of pay order of amount to Rs1,85,000 which was found to be fake/ counterfeit and not issued by the said branch.
He had said that after the formalities, competent authority has allowed initiation of criminal proceedings against the culprits, further investigation is in progress and the first information report has been lodged accordingly.