Indian cricketer Krunal Pandya was detained in Mumbai on suspicion of smuggling gold.
The Mumbai Indians all-rounder was on his way back from the UAE after the team won the Indian Premier League title in Dubai on Tuesday.
According to the ANI news agency, Pandya, 29, was questioned by Indian authorities at Mumbai International Airport on suspicion of possessing an undisclosed quantity of gold and other valuables.
The incident is being investigated by India’s Directorate of Revenue, which enforces India’s customs laws.
Smuggling gold into India, the world’s biggest consumer of the precious metal after China, has been increasing since 2013.
The surge came after the government raised the import tax to 10 per cent, followed by another rise to 12.5 per cent last year.
Up to 95 tonnes of gold was smuggled into India in 2018, according to the World Gold Council.
But that figure is expected to decline this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, an airline passenger was arrested for attempting to smuggle gold foil hidden around bars of chocolate. In October, Indian customs officials arrested a passenger who travelled from Dubai, after they found almost about 500 grams of gold in his body.
Authorities in the UAE and India launched investigations into gold smuggling in July after customs officials in India thwarted an attempt to smuggle Dh7 million worth of gold from the UAE to Kerala.
The IPL was played in the UAE this year – also due to the pandemic.
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Mumbai Indians won the IPL title for the fifth time after defeating Delhi Capitals by five wickets in Dubai in 2020. -
Mumbai Indians with the 2020 IPL trophy in Dubai on Tuesday. -
Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma celebrates the win in the final against Delhi Capitals. -
Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma powered Mumbai Indians to a comfortable win over Delhi Capitals in the IPL final in Dubai on Tuesday. -
Rohit Sharma hit a match-winning fifty for Mumbai Indians in the final against Delhi Capitals. -
Ishan Kishan has been a revelation for Mumbai Indians. -
Jayant Yadav of Mumbai Indians celebrates the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan of Delhi Capitals. -
Trent Boult gave Mumbai Indians an electric start with the ball against Delhi Capitals in the final in Dubai on Tuesday. -
Nita Ambani, co- owner of Mumbai Indians, cheers her team in Dubai. -
Rishabh Pant of Delhi Capitals scored a fifty on Tuesday. -
Marcus Stoinis of Delhi Capitals celebrates the wicket of Quinton de Kock. -
Shikhar Dhawan of Delhi Capitals is bowled by Jayant Yadav. -
Shreyas Iyer, captain of Delhi Capitals, celebrates his fifty.
