Alleged Demand of ₹5 Lakh Bribe for Shipment Release: Bombay HC allows Bail for Customs Superintendent [Read Order]
Meanwhile, the bail applicant submitted that the complainant had made false allegations against the Superintendent so as to escape the liability of demurrage charges.
![Alleged Demand of ₹5 Lakh Bribe for Shipment Release: Bombay HC allows Bail for Customs Superintendent [Read Order]](https://www.taxscan.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/bribe.jpg "Alleged Demand of ₹5 Lakh Bribe for Shipment Release: Bombay HC allows Bail for Customs Superintendent [Read Order]")
In a recent decision, the Bombay High Court allowed the bail application of a Customs Superintendent who had been arrested in connection with an alleged demand for a ₹5 lakh bribe to release a shipment at JNPT Port (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, now officially known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority or JNPA). The Applicant, Vineet Kumar Dhattarwal had filed a bail application before...
In a recent decision, the Bombay High Court allowed the bail application of a Customs Superintendent who had been arrested in connection with an alleged demand for a ₹5 lakh bribe to release a shipment at JNPT Port (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, now officially known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority or JNPA).
The Applicant, Vineet Kumar Dhattarwal had filed a bail application before the Bombay High Court following his arrest registered by CBI for an offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
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It was alleged that on 08.09.2024, a shipment containing Tolune Di-Isocyanate imported from Jabel Ali Port, UAE, by the complainant’s company was detained by the Applicant at JNPT Port who was the Superintendent, SIIB (Import).
Although the Customs DYCC Lab had provided no objection for the release of the shipment following testing, the Applicant allegedly kept the shipment pending and demanded ₹5 lakh as a bribe for its clearance.
Dr. Sujay Kantawala, appearing along with Aditya Talpade and Pratik Karande for the Applicant, contended that the SIIB (Import) department is headed by the Commissioner of Customs, and the Applicant, being merely a Superintendent, had a limited role without the authority to finalize the release of shipments.
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Accordingly, It was argued that the allegations were false and purposefully instated by the complainant to avoid paying due demurrage charges. It was further submitted that the Applicant had already been in judicial custody for about two months and that the investigation was complete, making continued detention unnecessary.
On the other hand, Kuldeep S. Patil, with Saili N. D. and Sampada S. Patil representing the CBI opposed the bail plea, submitting that the Applicant had indeed demanded ₹5 lakh through a co-accused, Ramnath Bodke, and ultimately accepted ₹2.5 lakh after negotiation. Swapnil Walve, APP, appeared for the State of Maharashtra.
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The single-judge Bench of Justice N. R. Borkar, noted that the Applicant had already undergone incarceration for about two months and that the investigation had been completed. The Court observed that in such circumstances, continued detention was not warranted.
Therefore the Bombay High Court proceeded to allow the bail application, directing that the Applicant be released on a personal bond of ₹25,000/- with one or two sureties of like amount.
To Read the full text of the Order CLICK HERE
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