A Singapore-based jeweller, arrested at Mumbai airport for smuggling diamonds and jewellery in her luggage and innerwear, has been identified as the wife of Abhishek Poddar, director of Siyaram Silk Mills.
Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DR) and the Directorate of Vigilance found diamond-studded gold jewellery in Vihari Poddar’s luggage. She was allegedly carrying more jewellery in her underclothes.
The officials had seized jewellery from her in a joint operation on Tuesday.
Vihari, who owns several jewellery outlets in Singapore, had arrived here by Singapore Airlines flight around 9 pm on Tuesday. She then proceeded towards the green channel without declaring the consignment that she was carrying on her body and in her luggage.
However, a search revealed gold and diamond jewellery worth `2.5 crore. She is said to have confessed to making several such trips to smuggle jewellery.
The DRI officials later seized jewellery worth `4 crore from her outlet at Santacruz here and sealed the shop. Vihari was produced before a Magistrate court, which remanded her to 15 days of judicial custody.