PSI working in Surat airport immigration held in gold smuggling case

Surat: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested PSI Parag Dave for his alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case at Surat airport. During the investigation, it was revealed that he had secured a job in the immigration department by making a personal request.

The Ahmedabad DRI had nabbed four individuals at Surat airport who had arrived from Sharjah on Air India flight IX172 on July 7th, carrying 43 kg of gold worth nearly ₹25 crore. The four accused individuals involved in the gold smuggling were identified as Yasir Ilyas Shaikh from Ranitalav, Baranpuri Bhagal, Sakib Mustakahmad Atashbajiwala from Bundelwad, and Uvesh Imtiaz Shaikh from Adajan Patia Ashiana flats. During the investigation, the accused individuals disclosed that they were supposed to hand over the gold to Sub Inspector Parag Dave of the Surat police department, who was serving in the immigration department at Surat airport. They further stated that PSI Parag Dave intended to supply the gold to masterminds within the city.

As a result, PSI Parag Dave was suspended from his position and detained by the DRI. The inquiry revealed that PSI Dave had initially served as a constable in Surat and was promoted to the rank of sub-inspector in 2018 after passing the Mode 2 exam. After his suspension in Kosamba, he was posted to Vadodara but was later transferred back to Surat city. On December 31st, 2022, he was assigned to Kapodra, where he only served for a month before requesting a transfer to the immigration department, citing his pursuit of a PhD in English literature as the reason.

The plan involved smuggling the gold, worth Rs 25.26 crore, to two states outside of Gujarat after it was brought into Gujarat. DeshGujarat