4 Customs officials suspended over passenger complaints at Ahmedabad airport

Ahmedabad: Four Customs officials posted with the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been suspended following allegations that they took away a packet containing 600 grams of gold biscuits and demanded money from two passengers.

The suspended officials are Superintendents Vinay Arora and Kuldeep Paliwal, and Inspectors Bharat Meena and Kaushal Kishore. The action is reportedly linked to procedural violations, including failure to wear body-worn cameras and make entries in the investigation register.

The incident occurred on September 4th, when two Surat district residents, aged around 30-35, arrived on Emirates flight EK 538 from Dubai at around 3am. AIU officials questioned and searched them for nearly three hours before allowing them to leave around 6.30am.

At around 7am, one passenger allegedly complained to a senior Customs official that the four personnel had taken a gold packet and demanded money. A subsequent inspection found a pair of trousers in the investigation room, while the officials admitted they had not used body cameras during the questioning.

Customs officials are examining CCTV footage and statements as part of the inquiry. The passengers and AIU officials have reportedly given conflicting accounts about the alleged gold recovery. DeshGujarat