Jayesh Panchmatia Arrested in ₹35 Crore Areca Nut Smuggling Case
Nagpur supari trader Jayesh Panchmatia detained by DRI in a major customs evasion investigation involving ₹35 crore worth of areca nuts.
Jayesh Panchmatia, a Nagpur-based trader, was arrested by DRI in connection with illegal areca nut imports.
The investigation has led to the detention of around 10 traders nationwide linked to the case.
Authorities are scrutinizing customs duty evasion, with imports from Bangladesh raising concerns.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has apprehended Jayesh Panchmatia, a prominent supari trader from Nagpur, as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal imports of areca nuts valued at approximately ₹35 crore. The operation took place in Nagpur, where DRI officials transported Panchmatia to Indore for further questioning regarding the customs evasion case that dates back to 2024.
This investigation has sparked significant concern within the local supari trading community. Reports suggest that around ten traders from various regions of India have been detained in connection with the case. The DRI's focus stems from the seizure of areca nuts worth ₹30-35 crore in Indore, with some of the confiscated goods traced back to Panchmatia's warehouse. Allegations indicate that the nuts were mislabeled with 'Origin of Bangladesh,' raising suspicions about the authenticity of the declarations.
Investigators are delving into the supply chain and examining the alleged connections to Bangladesh, a country not typically recognized as a major producer of areca nuts. The DRI is particularly concerned about potential customs duty evasion, as the import duty on areca nuts is approximately 105%. Officials suspect that traders may have employed various tactics to bypass these duties before distributing the products to gutkha manufacturers in Nagpur.
In addition to Panchmatia, three other individuals from Nagpur have been implicated in the case, including traders linked to the Chaurasia and Siddiqui businesses, as well as a financier who purportedly operates under the guise of an iron trading business while facilitating areca nut transactions. Further actions against these individuals are anticipated as the investigation unfolds, with Panchmatia's interrogation aimed at revealing a broader network of suppliers and financiers.
Panchmatia's involvement in previous customs cases in Chennai, including those associated with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Madras High Court, has also come to light. This latest DRI operation is expected to intensify scrutiny on Nagpur's extensive supari trading network, as investigators seek to clarify the methods of importation, transportation, and distribution while assessing whether customs duties were intentionally evaded.
