Lok Sabha Question No. 1271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Gold Smuggling Cases
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Anto  Antony

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 1271

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

Sravana 3, 1944(Saka)

## Gold Smuggling Cases

## 1271. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any statistics regarding the number of cases registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or  any other Central  Agencies with  regard  to  smuggling  of gold across the country including the State of Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details of such cases registered by the central agencies during the last ten years, year-wise and State-wise;
- (c) the details of the total value of gold seized during the said period;
- (d) the details of number of cases judged and punished so far; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plan to set up fast track courts for speedy trail in view of the increasing number of cases?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a): During the last 10 years, the Directorate of Enforcement has recorded 15 cases under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 and has taken up 29 cases for investigation under provisions of FEMA, 1999 related to Gold Smuggling all over India on the basis of seizure of the gold by other LEAs.

Since  the  inception  of  NIA,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  entrusted  04  cases pertaining to gold smuggling to NIA for investigation. Out of 04 cases, 01 case pertains to Kerala State. In these 04 cases, a total of 132.36539 kg of gold was seized by the Customs department having the approx. value of Rs. 67.0316722/- crore.

- (b): The  details  of  gold  seized  by  Customs  field  formations  and  DRI  are  enclosed  as Annexure-A and details of cases being investigated by NIA are at Annexure-B.
- (c): During investigations under the provisions of FEMA, the Directorate of Enforcement  has  seized  Gold  weighing  26.97kg  amounting  to  Rs  10.5  Crores.  Further, under  PMLA,  till 20.07.2022,  proceeds  of  crime  to  the  tune  of  Rs.18.66 crore (approx.) has been attached in 02 cases and 03 Prosecution Complaints including 01 Supplementary PC has also been filed in these 02 cases.

Disclosure of further information may not be in the larger public interest as it may adversely impact the ongoing investigation.

A total seizure of gold valued at around Rs. 9661.608 Crores was made by CBIC.

- (d): Chargesheet has been filed in all 04 cases by NIA. However, the cases are under trial in the Judicial Courts.

A total of 27867 cases were adjudicated and 1045 cases were prosecuted by CBIC.

- (e): The Government has no plans to set up fast track courts for this purpose.

*****

| State/UT   | Calendar Year    | No. of cases of seizure of gold   |
|------------|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Goa        | 2012             | 0                                 |
| Goa        | 2013             | 18                                |
| Goa        | 2014             | 44                                |
| Goa        | 2015             | 34                                |
| Goa        | 2016             | 5                                 |
| Goa        | 2017             | 18                                |
| Goa        | 2018             | 18                                |
| Goa        | 2019             | 11                                |
| Goa        | 2020             | 7                                 |
| Goa        | 2021             | 13                                |
|            | 2022 (upto June) | 13                                |
| Karnataka  | 2012             | 18                                |
| Karnataka  | 2013             | 120                               |
| Karnataka  | 2014             | 213                               |
| Karnataka  | 2015             | 215                               |
| Karnataka  | 2016             | 107                               |
| Karnataka  | 2017             | 164                               |
| Karnataka  | 2018             | 242                               |
| Karnataka  | 2019             | 207                               |
| Karnataka  | 2020             | 103                               |
| Karnataka  | 2021             | 173                               |
| Karnataka  | 2022 (upto June) | 33                                |
|            | 2012             | 50                                |
| Kerala     | 2013             | 144                               |
| Kerala     | 2014             | 273                               |
| Kerala     | 2015             | 238                               |
| Kerala     | 2016             | 166                               |
| Kerala     | 2017             | 259                               |
| Kerala     | 2018             | 997                               |
| Kerala     | 2019             | 1073                              |
| Kerala     | 2020             | 672                               |
| Kerala     | 2021             | 738                               |
| Kerala     | 2022             |                                   |
| Kerala     | (upto June)      | 470                               |

| State/UT    | Calendar Year    | No. of cases of seizure of gold   |
|-------------|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Maharashtra | 2012             | 490                               |
|             | 2013             | 315                               |
|             | 2014             | 1233                              |
|             | 2015             | 757                               |
|             | 2016             | 270                               |
|             | 2017             | 824                               |
|             | 2018             | 1570                              |
|             | 2019             | 812                               |
|             | 2020             | 389                               |
|             | 2021             | 210                               |
|             | 2022 (upto June) | 177                               |
| Odisha      | 2012             | 0                                 |
| Odisha      | 2013             | 0                                 |
| Odisha      | 2014             | 0                                 |
| Odisha      | 2015             | 0                                 |
| Odisha      | 2016             | 0                                 |
| Odisha      | 2017             | 2                                 |
| Odisha      | 2018             | 26                                |
| Odisha      | 2019             | 11                                |
| Odisha      | 2020             | 2                                 |
| Odisha      | 2021             | 0                                 |
| Odisha      | 2022 (upto June) | 1                                 |
| Tamil Nadu  | 2012             | 142                               |
|             | 2013             | 538                               |
|             | 2014             | 1338                              |
|             | 2015             | 1033                              |
|             | 2016             | 458                               |
|             | 2017             | 645                               |
|             | 2018             | 750                               |
|             | 2019             | 1186                              |
|             | 2020             | 676                               |
|             | 2021             | 521                               |
|             | 2022             |                                   |
|             | (upto June)      | 435                               |

| State/UT                                                                                                                             | Calendar Year    |   No. of cases of seizure of gold |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                                 7 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                                90 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                               315 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                               215 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                               194 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                               170 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                               175 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                               205 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             |                  |                                86 |
| West Bengal 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                                             | 2021             |                               109 |
| 2022 (upto June)                                                                                                                     |                  |                                84 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      | 2012             |                                 2 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                20 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                50 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                26 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                22 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                29 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                43 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                91 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      |                  |                                61 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      | 2021             |                                93 |
| Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020                                                      | 2022 June)       |                                42 |
| (upto Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Leh & Laddakh * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 |                  |                                15 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               137 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               699 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               437 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               149 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               279 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               491 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               502 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               309 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 |                  |                               359 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                 | 2022 (upto June) |                               186 |

| State/UT                                                                                                                       | Calendar Year    |   No. of cases of seizure of gold |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                 1 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                34 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                71 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                47 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                 9 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                28 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             |                  |                                95 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             | 2019             |                               137 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             | 2020             |                               114 |
| and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018                                                             | 2021             |                                73 |
| 2022 (upto June)                                                                                                               |                  |                                69 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      | 2012             |                                 0 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 0 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 0 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 0 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 1 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 2 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 2 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      |                  |                                 2 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      | 2020             |                                 5 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      | 2021             |                                 7 |
| Pradesh, Chattisgarh * 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019                                                                      | 2022 (upto June) |                                 4 |
| States (Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura) * 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 |                  |                                 4 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                 2 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                19 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                29 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                25 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                72 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                               102 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                50 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                49 |
|                                                                                                                                |                  |                                54 |
|                                                                                                                                | 2022 (upto June) |                                29 |

| State/UT                    | Calendar Year    |   No. of cases of seizure of gold |
|-----------------------------|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2012             |                                 3 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2013             |                                75 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2014             |                               127 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2015             |                               111 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2016             |                                79 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2017             |                               163 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2018             |                               119 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2019             |                               117 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2020             |                                94 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2021             |                                95 |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh * | 2022 (upto June) |                                27 |

* States/UTs were grouped because their data was not available separately.

## Annexure-B

|   Year | Case No. & Identity                                                                                 | Name of State   |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
|   2020 | RC-32/2020/NIA/DLI (Seizure of smuggled gold at Railway Station, New Delhi)                         | Delhi           |
|   2020 | RC-36/2020/NIA/DLI ( Trivandrum Gold Smuggling Case )                                               | Kerala          |
|   2020 | RC-36/2020/NIA/DLI (Seizure of gold bar at Jaipur airport by customs officials, Jodhpur, Rajasthan) | Rajasthan       |
|   2022 | RC-05/2020/NIA/DLI (Seizure of FICN with gold by Custom officials at IGI Airport, New Delhi)        | Delhi           |