New clause for duty-free gold evokes mixed response from NRIs

March 2, 2013

Mangalore, Mar 2: Even though the Government of India has revised the clauses for duty-free gold that can be carried by passengers to India in the 2013 budget, Indian expatriates in Gulf countries including UAE and Saudi Arabia voiced mixed responses to the new rule.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday had announced amendment to a 1967 customs rule that had fixed the value of gold that can be carried by male and female passengers at Rs10,000 and Rs20,000 respectively. He raised the value of gold exempt from taxes to Rs50,000 and Rs100,000 for men and women respectively. As per the new rules, Indian expatriates can now carry five times more gold without paying any tax when they visit their home country.

While some heaved a sigh of relief and welcomed the government's move, a large number of Indians were upset that the government did not fix the limit as per the weight of the gold, but its value, considering the ever-changing and generally skyrocketing gold rates.

K.V. Shamsudheen, the chairman of Sharjah-based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust that had launched a campaign demanding a hike of the limit for carrying gold freely to India, appreciated the minister for increasing the present value to its five times. “In the budget, it is the only advantage for NRIs.”

However, he said it was not adequate for Indians, particularly women, who are known to wear a lot of gold jewellery, especially for functions. “But under the current value (of gold), the value of their wedding ring and mangalya soothra itself would be much more than the new allocation which is not adequate,” he said.

Thousands of people had signed an online petition launched by Shamsudheen who had requested the Indian prime minister and finance minister to allow 100gm gold to be carried by male passengers and 200gm of gold by female passengers without paying tax.

Dhilna Dinesh, a dance teacher from Dubai, said the new rule was likely to create problems for women like her.

“If customs officials will start strictly imposing this rule, it will be difficult for women like me to wear gold ornaments of our choice for functions in India. This can lead to people trying to carry ornaments by hiding them somehow and it can also pave the way for opportunistic customs officials to demand bribe,” she said.

According to Sunny Chittilappilly, chairman of Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, it was a welcome move by the government to amend the age-old law. “Something is better than nothing. But, considering the current gold rate, the women can hardly take 36gm of gold. It would have been ideal had the government not repeated the mistake of tagging the limit to the value, not the weight,” he said.

Citing the Indians' obsession with gold and the spiraling rates, he said it would be reasonable for the government to allow male and female passengers to carry 50gm and 100gm of gold without paying tax. “It is a reasonable quantity and there won't be demands for amendments in future,” he added.

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SIT raids rape accused BJP MLA Munirathna’s residence, 15 other locations

News Network

September 28,2024

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing charges against arrested Karnataka BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu, including allegations of rape, honey-trapping, and other offences, on Saturday conducted raids at his residence and 15 other locations across the city.

Sources confirmed that the raids were taking place at his Vyalikaval residence and other properties owned by the BJP MLA. The operation is being conducted by the SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by ACP Kavitha.

The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other materials related to the rape and honey-trapping case. The SIT is being supported by experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha also participating in the search and inspection at Munirathna’s Vyalikaval residence.

According to sources, the raids were triggered by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults and used it to blackmail politicians and public servants, including IAS and IPS officers.

The victim reportedly revealed that she was used to entrap the woman who had lodged a rape case against a senior IFS officer. She was allegedly instructed to frame the rape victim in a drug peddling case.

The complainant told police that she was tasked with capturing compromising videos of the rape victim who had filed the case against the IFS officer. She claimed that, after several failed attempts to obtain the videos, the victim was drugged with sleeping pills, and obscene footage was recorded without her consent. Later, the IFS officer was bailed out from the charges.

Furthermore, the complainant has accused MLA Munirathna of raping her at his office within the state legislature, in his official vehicle, and at his godown. She has alleged that he recorded videos of these assaults.

Police sources also revealed that the victim in the MLA's case provided details of a plot involving sending HIV-infected women to Munirathna's targets in an attempt to ruin them politically and personally. She also disclosed the names of several politicians whom she had entrapped through honey-trapping.

The woman further claimed that Munirathna had threatened to have her son kidnapped and killed if she refused to comply with his demands. According to her, the MLA had a well-organised team dedicated to carrying out these honey-trapping operations, and she provided details about his close associates and relatives involved in the scheme.

Munirathna, who was in judicial custody following his arrest in the rape and honey-trap case, has now been taken into the custody of the SIT.

The MLA was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. The BJP legislator, however, has denied all the allegations, claiming they are false.

Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh had alleged that Munirathna was trying to infect his adversaries with HIV and that the government should investigate the matter.

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