A reply under Right To Information (RTI) Act has revealed that Bunty Ashok Ramnani alias Dipen Ashok Sutar (33) was levied a penalty of Rs. 11 Lakhs, in a case involving smuggling of Foreign currency, by the Hyderabad Airport Authority. Bunty Ramnani happens to be an active member of the notorious Deepak Suhani’s gang and is a resident of Flat No-501, near Vitthalwadi police station, Ulhasnagar – 4 in Thane district.
On November 13, 2017, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad had arrested Bunty Ramnani for smuggling foreign currency worth Rs 50, 74,300 concealed in his checked-in-bag, slippers, handbag and rectum.
On December 31, 2019 Anil Surajnath Satnathi, a cloth businessman and resident of Ulhasnagar sought information through RTI from Ministry of Finance, Government of India about action taken on Deepak Suhani gang’s members. On February 6, 2020 K. Siva Krishna, Deputy Commissioner, CPIO replied to the RTI Application. As per the reply, Bunty Ramnani was arrested and Dr Manjula D. Hosmani, Additional Commissioner, had imposed penalty of Rs 11, 00,000 on him under sections 114(i) of the Customs Act, 1962.
On 13 November 2019 Bunty Ramnani was also arrested at Chennai airport with 1.19 Kilogram gold and Bunty’s brother Amit Ramnani was also arrested on September 2, 2016 at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport, Kolkata for smuggling 1.23 Kilogram gold.
New modus operandi
Deepak Suhani gang has now adopted new modus operandi to smuggle gold. The international flyer hides gold bars behind the slot of tissue paper holders fitted in washroom at airport. The domestic flyer removes it and passes it to another flyer.
A 20 year old girl Laxmi Goklani has recently joined the gang to smuggle gold and foreign currency.
“Deepak Suhani gang has started smuggling I-phone X also,”said Anil Satnathi.