A jeweller, arrested in a foreign currency racket case in which three people were earlier nabbed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport purportedly hiding 3.9 lakh euros in their rectums, has alleged in a Delhi court that he was beaten up by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials in custody.
The allegation was denied by the DRI’s agency prosecutor, who said before being produced in the court, the accused was medically examined at RMl Hospital and no such incident has taken place. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass, however, directed that Shakti Mehta be taken to AIIMS for medical examination and sent him to judicial custody till November 25.
Advocate Ashutosh, appearing for Mehta, moved a bail plea contending that the DRI has procured a false medical record from RMl Hospital. The bail plea would come up for hearing on November 15.
According to DRI, three men were caught at the IGI Airport in October, hiding 3.9 lakh euros — equivalent to `2.9 crore — in their rectums. The money was wrapped in plastic pouches and inserted into their body cavity, it said.
They were accused of carrying foreign currency abroad and during interrogation, they claimed they were doing so at Mehta's behest. Mehta's counsel sought bail claiming that he was forced tomake some statements under the DRI Act which were incorrect and not voluntary.
He alleged that nothing incriminating was recovered from his house in Panipat or jewellery shop which was illegally sealed by DRI officials. The counsel also sought the court to take cognizance of the alleged illegal acts of DRI officials and action against RMl Hospital officials for giving false medical certificate. Mehta had earlier approached the Delhi High Court seeking direction to de-seal his shop in Panipat but the court had directed him to appear before the authorities.