Grewal’s counsel refutes report

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 19

Responding to a news report “29K Canadian dollars seized at airport” carried in the columns of The Tribune on March 19, Harmohan Grewal, through his counsel, has asserted that he had legally declared the amount at the New Delhi airport and was also issued a declaration certificate.

After obtaining the declaration certificate dated March 17, no authority could question him on the amount he carried till his departure to Canada, advocate Karamjit Singh Chahal said on Grewal’s behalf.

In a communication to The Tribune, Chahal stated that Grewal came to India on March 17 after withdrawing Canadian dollars 29,100 from his bank account. On arrival at the IGI Airport, he declared the amount to the office of the Commissioner of Custom and was issued a declaration certificate under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

He said Grewal was astonished at the behaviour of the Punjab Police on arrival at the Chandigarh airport after catching a domestic flight from Delhi. In response to a query by a police officer, Grewal disclosed he was carrying Canadian dollars and showed the declaration certificate. Despite that he was kept in illegal custody for more than two hours in an insulting manner.

Chahal said income tax officials verified the amount with Grewal while he was kept in police custody.

“There was nothing to keep my client in police custody at the time of verification by the I-T officials,” Chahal said.