KAPIL Arvind Parekh, the vice president of India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) is absconding after a person was arrested with 22 kilogram smuggled gold at Mumbai airport. Kapil’s father Arvind Purushottam Parekh is also absconding into the matter who runs jewelers shop at Zaveri Bazar.
Last week customs officials of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested a person Joginder Singh (64) at Mumbai airport with 44 gold bars, each weighing 500 gram and totalling 22kg, worths Rs 6.7 crore which was concealed in body.
Joginder Singh, a resident of Koperkhairane in Navi Mumbai, during interrogation accepted that he was working for Arvindkumar Purushottamdas Parekh and Kapil Arvindkumar Parekh. He was selling smuggled gold to them. They were purchasing the smuggled gold and selling it further.
DRI officials raided Chokshi Arvind Jewellers at Zaveri Bazar but both the father son duo were succeeded to absconding. There are also informal reports that they may be involved in Hawala Trade as money for smuggled gold is usually paid through unofficial channels.
Kapil Arvind Parekh is the vice president of India Bullion and Jewellers Association, which is headed by Mohit Kamboj. Mohit Kamboj is the President of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha Mumbai (BJYM). Arvind Choksi has close personal ties with Mohit Kamboj.
IBJA, previously Bombay Bullion Association has had a history of having office bearers and directors who have had tainted past and have been investigated by multiple departments for financial offenses.