ORDER

Per: Justice Sunil Thomas, Judicial Member –

The applicant was the Superintendent of the Central Excise & Customs in Intelligence Section of Air Customs Unit at Trivandrum and was on Xray Machine duty of incoming hand baggages on 13.5.2019. On that day, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted two passengers by names Sunilkumar Mohanakumaran Thambi and Sareena Shaji who had arrived at the airport, from Dubai. On examination of their baggage by the DRI officials, 25 gold bars weighing 24,998.61 grams valued at 8,17,45,455/- were found and seized as per law. Statements of the accused and witnesses were recorded. It was revealed in the course of investigation that applicant had facilitated the smuggling of gold. The mobile of the applicant who was on duty at the Xray machine at the relevant time and other documents were seized. The house of the applicant was simultaneously raid