In decade's biggest seizure of gold in Mangaluru Airport, officials seize gold worth Rs. 2 crore
Mangaluru: In one of the biggest seizure of Gold of the decade in Mangalore, 5 Kgs and valued at Rs. 2 Crores was seized at the Air Cargo Complex, Mangaluru.
Acting on a tip-off the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Bangalore and Mangalore in a co-ordinated effort unraveled a unique modus of smuggling of gold through Air Cargo Complex, at old airport, Bajpe Mangalore on Monday.
The smuggled gold was concealed in 5 metal sprockets which were imported by M/s Swaroop Mineral Pvt Ltd of Udupi in the name of “mining conveyor drive chain”.
The gold was deftly concealed inside the heavy metal sprockets by way of a groove and gave only slight hint of tampering on physical examination. The scanning of the said wheels added to the suspicion and finally the officers could retrieve the gold with the help of local mechanic and lathe machine at Bajpe.
On examination by the authorized Jeweller, 05 round plates weighed 4,995 grams by net weight after discounting the weight of aluminium coating. The gold pieces were found to be of 24 Karat purity and their current market value was placed at around 2 Crores.
The contraband gold was later seized by the officers of DRI under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The active director of M/s. Swaroop Mineral Resources Shri Manohar Kumar Poojari involved in the case was arrested at Bangalore on the same day in a co-ordinated effort by DRI Bangalore.
Shri Lohith Shriyan, a person hailing from Ashoknagar looking after the logistics of smuggling was also arrested by DRI Mangalore.
Further investigation in the smuggling case is in progress to unearth the other members of the syndicate and the investors in the case.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
