Pune, August 17, 2023: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant breakthrough by apprehending a key suspect in the Jaipur gold smuggling case, thwarting a major conspiracy involving over Rs. 9 crore worth of gold bars. The suspect, against whom a Red Corner Notice (RCN) and a Look Out Circular (LOC) were issued, has been successfully captured by the NIA. This development is linked to the seizure of 18.56 kgs of gold bars at Jaipur International Airport.
The confiscated gold bars, with an estimated market value of over Rs. 9 crore, were intercepted during an attempted smuggling operation from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the year 2020. This smuggling endeavor was part of a larger criminal conspiracy aimed at undermining India’s economic security and financial stability.
The gold bars, concealed ingeniously within emergency lights, were discovered by authorities. The suspects involved in the smuggling operation have been identified as Mohabbat Ali, Subhash, Md Maqbool Sheikh, Chuna Ram, and Amjad Ali.
Notably, Mohabbat Ali, a resident of Rajasthan, had managed to evade law enforcement since September 2020. On March 22, 2021, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against him under IPC section 120B and UA(P)Act sections 16, 18, and 20.
Given the gravity of the case and Mohabbat Ali’s status as a ‘most wanted’ individual, the NIA had offered a reward of Rs. 2 lakh for information leading to his capture. The NIA Special Court declared him a Proclaimed Offender (PO) on March 17, 2021, accompanied by the issuance of a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) against him. In addition, an LOC was initiated in 2021, followed by the issuance of an RCN on September 13, 2021.
