All the 22 customs officers, including 12 class I officers (superintendents), who were arrested by the police after they were allegedly found partying naked and in an inebriated state at a bungalow in Khandala were deployed at the arrival hall of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Sahar.
The arrested nine Preventive Officers (POs) belong to the Central Excise cadre and had just completed their one-year deputation with the Airport Customs. They would have been relieved from the airport and gone back to their parent cadre once their replacements arrived. On successful completion of their deputation, the POs decided to host a party for their seniors before leaving the city. The decided to host the party on Tuesday night.
After completing their 8am to 8pm day shift, the POs accompanied by their seniors left for Khandala by a tourist bus. The party started at midnight. Following a tip-off, the Pune Rural police raided the bungalow around 2 am when the party was in full-swing and arrested the officers.
Sources in the customs department revealed that there were bitter rivalries among the officers at the airport. “Some one on the inside knew that the officers were planning a party and must have tipped off the cops to settle some old scores,” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.
Chief Commissioner of Customs Hariom Tiwari has instructed his department to deal with the arrested officials sternly. All the arrested officials were released on bail on Wednesday on a personal bond of Rs5,000 each by the court.
