News for 'customs department'

Customs Agent Sentenced In Import Duty Evasion Case

Customs Agent Sentenced In Import Duty Evasion Case

Rediff.com21 May 2026

A court in Mumbai sentenced a customs clearing agent to two years' imprisonment in four cases of import duty evasion, while acquitting three others due to flawed investigation by the CBI.

Maha makes free drinking water mandatory for customers at eateries

Maha makes free drinking water mandatory for customers at eateries

Rediff.com5 days ago

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has issued a comprehensive order mandating free drinking water for customers in all food establishments, banning food served in newspapers, and introducing rigorous operational standards. These new regulations aim to improve food safety, hygiene, and transparency across hotels, restaurants, and other food service providers in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Man Arrested With Marijuana At Ahmedabad Airport

Uttar Pradesh Man Arrested With Marijuana At Ahmedabad Airport

Rediff.com22 May 2026

A man from Uttar Pradesh was arrested at Ahmedabad airport for allegedly possessing over 20 kg of marijuana after arriving from Bangkok.

Customs Busts Luxury Car Smuggling Ring, Seizes SUVs

Customs Busts Luxury Car Smuggling Ring, Seizes SUVs

Rediff.com15 May 2026

The Customs Commissionerate (Preventive), Kochi, has seized multiple SUVs and arrested a used luxury car showroom owner as part of 'Operation Numkhor', an ongoing investigation into the smuggling of luxury vehicles from Nepal and Bhutan.

Mumbai Airport Customs Seizes Rs 46 Crore Worth of Contraband

Mumbai Airport Customs Seizes Rs 46 Crore Worth of Contraband

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

The Mumbai Customs department seized narcotics, foreign currency, gold, and precious stones worth over Rs 46 crore at the Mumbai international airport in a week.

Customs Officials Seize Hydroponic Weed, Cash At Mumbai Airport

Customs Officials Seize Hydroponic Weed, Cash At Mumbai Airport

Rediff.com9 May 2026

Customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport seized hydroponic weed valued at nearly 20 crore and USD 1 lakh in cash over two days.

Nagaland Aims To Adapt Juvenile Justice Act To Local Customs

Nagaland Aims To Adapt Juvenile Justice Act To Local Customs

Rediff.com19 May 2026

Nagaland is seeking to implement the Juvenile Justice Act and Adoption Regulations in a way that respects the state's customary laws and traditional systems of care, while remaining legally sound.

Mumbai Airport: Gold Worth 3.15 Crore Seized From Passengers

Mumbai Airport: Gold Worth 3.15 Crore Seized From Passengers

Rediff.com11 May 2026

The Customs department seized gold worth Rs 3.15 crore from two passengers at Mumbai airport, including a finance professional smuggling gold due to US-Iran conflict concerns.

Smuggled Goods Worth Over Rs 1.79 Crore Seized At Mumbai Airport

Smuggled Goods Worth Over Rs 1.79 Crore Seized At Mumbai Airport

Rediff.com3 May 2026

Customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport seized electronic items, cosmetics, cigarettes, and crude gold worth over Rs 1.79 crore from passengers arriving from Dubai, leading to one arrest.

How Nykaa Is Revolutionising Beauty And Fashion Shopping With OpenAI

How Nykaa Is Revolutionising Beauty And Fashion Shopping With OpenAI

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Beauty and lifestyle retailer Nykaa has announced a multi-year collaboration with OpenAI to integrate AI-driven shopping experiences through ChatGPT. This partnership will allow users to receive conversational recommendations for beauty and fashion products, with Nykaa fulfilling these queries. Additionally, OpenAI's technologies will be deployed across Nykaa's internal operations to boost productivity.

Passenger Caught With 29 Exotic Animals At Mumbai Airport

Passenger Caught With 29 Exotic Animals At Mumbai Airport

Rediff.com7 Jun 2026

Customs officials at Mumbai international airport intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok with 29 exotic wild animals, including a gibbon, melanistic squirrel, ball python, and iguana. A rescue team was called to identify and stabilise the animals, which will be repatriated to their country of origin.

Rats, cockroaches found in 6 Mumbai restaurants, FDA suspends licences

Rats, cockroaches found in 6 Mumbai restaurants, FDA suspends licences

Rediff.com4 hours ago

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of six restaurants and eateries in Mumbai, including a posh establishment in Nariman Point. The action followed raids that uncovered unhygienic kitchens, expired stock, misbranded products, and pest infestations. The FDA also seized banned food items and made arrests during a wider statewide enforcement drive, vowing continued strict action.

6 Taxpayer Categories Face Scrutiny

6 Taxpayer Categories Face Scrutiny

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Taxpayers should reconcile returns with AIS, Form 26AS and maintain all supporting records.

Airtel Defends Its Priority Postpaid Plans

Airtel Defends Its Priority Postpaid Plans

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Airtel, which upgraded all postpaid customers to priority plans, argued that the service did not throttle or degrade the experience for its prepaid customers, forming the majority of its 368 million customers in the country.

India Owes Iran $7 Billion!

India Owes Iran $7 Billion!

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Formerly Iran's second-largest oil customer, Indian financial institutions were forced to withhold crude oil payments following the 2018 US sanctions.

Mumbai Resort Booked for Allegedly Keeping Exotic Animals Illegally

Mumbai Resort Booked for Allegedly Keeping Exotic Animals Illegally

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

A popular resort in Mumbai is under investigation after a joint raid by Customs and forest department officials revealed the alleged unauthorized possession of exotic animals, including marmoset monkeys and macaw parrots.

FCC Aims to Incentivise Return of Call Centres to US, Improve Customer Service

FCC Aims to Incentivise Return of Call Centres to US, Improve Customer Service

Rediff.com27 Mar 2026

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering proposals to encourage businesses to bring call centre jobs back to the US and require call-takers to be proficient in American Standard English.

DoT notifies new telecom authorisation rules, replacing multiple licences

DoT notifies new telecom authorisation rules, replacing multiple licences

Rediff.com5 days ago

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced a new authorisation regime, replacing multiple licences with a single permission for principal telecom services, aiming to simplify compliance and accommodate evolving technologies. This move is expected to ease business operations, enhance fraud prevention with AI, and expand connectivity, especially through satellite networks.

Mumbai grinds to a halt as BEST strike pulls 2,700 buses off roads

Mumbai grinds to a halt as BEST strike pulls 2,700 buses off roads

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Employees of Mumbai's BEST undertaking have launched an indefinite strike, severely impacting public transport and electricity services. The strike, called by a joint action committee, demands budget merger with BMC, settlement of dues, and implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, among other issues. Despite court orders and MESMA invocation, the strike continues, causing widespread inconvenience to millions of commuters and electricity consumers.

Four Arrested At Delhi Airport For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Four Arrested At Delhi Airport For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

Customs officials at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport arrested four passengers arriving from Bangkok for allegedly smuggling drugs worth approximately Rs 9 crore.

Trump Is Coming For Immigrant Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles...

Trump Is Coming For Immigrant Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles...

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Immigrants' contribution to the US economy is disproportionate to their share of the population, meaning that losing them would shrink the economy even more than losing a random group of Americans, points out Sree Sreenivasan.

Iraq striker Hussein questioned for hours on arrival in US for FIFA World Cup

Iraq striker Hussein questioned for hours on arrival in US for FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare Airport before being allowed into the United States, while the team's photographer was denied entry ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The Last Trip With My Father

The Last Trip With My Father

Rediff.com4 days ago

At Kolga Aabla, the closest beach to her grandmother's home, at the edge of a birch forest, we immersed her balance ashes. It was a sombre, precious day for both of us. But a day that also brought long-needed closure. My mother's spirit, chained for so many years in a Parkinson's-locked body, was free. But my father came back from the beach a visibly older man.

IndiGo moves Delhi HC seeking Rs 900 crore Customs duty refund

IndiGo moves Delhi HC seeking Rs 900 crore Customs duty refund

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, has approached the Delhi high court seeking a refund of over Rs 900 crore it claims to have paid as Customs duty on aircraft engines and parts re-imported into India after overseas repairs. The petition came up for hearing on Friday before a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Shail Jain.

Govt to Crack Down on Industrial Users Diverting Cheaper Retail Fuel

Govt to Crack Down on Industrial Users Diverting Cheaper Retail Fuel

Rediff.com28 May 2026

The Indian government has issued a stern warning to industrial users who are reportedly procuring cheaper retail fuel instead of industrial-grade fuel, leading to significant losses for state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) and potential local shortages. This diversion, driven by a substantial price difference between retail and bulk diesel, is adversely impacting OMCs, which are absorbing daily losses of approximately 550 crore to keep retail prices stable.

Ahmedabad Airport Bust: Passengers Arrested with Rs 2 Crore of Hydroponic Weed

Ahmedabad Airport Bust: Passengers Arrested with Rs 2 Crore of Hydroponic Weed

Rediff.com3 Apr 2026

Two passengers were arrested at Ahmedabad airport for allegedly possessing hydroponic weed worth Rs 2 crore, after arriving from Bangkok. The drugs were discovered following a tip-off.

30 Indian truck drivers arrested for living illegally in US, to be deported

30 Indian truck drivers arrested for living illegally in US, to be deported

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

About 30 Indian nationals living illegally in the US and working as commercial truck drivers have been arrested and will be deported as part of 'Operation Checkmate'.

Trent targets 10x revenue milestone, eyes international markets: Noel Tata

Trent targets 10x revenue milestone, eyes international markets: Noel Tata

Rediff.com31 May 2026

Tata Group retail firm Trent, owner of Westside and Zudio, is confident of achieving a ten-fold increase in revenue in the 'not-so-distant future' and plans to take its homegrown brands to international markets, said Chairman Noel N Tata.

How Hyderabad Police Busted A Ghost SIM Card Racket

How Hyderabad Police Busted A Ghost SIM Card Racket

Rediff.com20 May 2026

Hyderabad Police have apprehended 66 individuals linked to a nationwide 'ghost' SIM card network, connected to 76 cybercrime cases involving over Rs 101 crore.

How Air India Is Using AI To Transform Operations

How Air India Is Using AI To Transform Operations

Rediff.com26 Apr 2026

Air India is significantly embracing artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer services, increase revenues, and reduce costs as part of its ambitious transformation plan under the Tata Group.

Avoid These Life Insurance Mistakes

Avoid These Life Insurance Mistakes

Rediff.com8 May 2026

Proposal forms are often filled by the agent. Check the form after it is filled.

The perfect pitch is the goal for World Cup grass growers

The perfect pitch is the goal for World Cup grass growers

Rediff.com4 Jun 2026

From Mexico to Canada, across 16 stadiums in wildly different climates, the continental tournament is putting turf science to its ultimate test. The goal: creating living surfaces that can withstand kicks, studs, tackles and scorching summer heat.

Punjabi Devils Founder Jailed For Firearms Offences

Punjabi Devils Founder Jailed For Firearms Offences

Rediff.com15 May 2026

Jashanpreet Singh, the founder of the 'Punjabi Devils' motorcycle gang, has been sentenced to over five years in prison in the US for unlawful dealing of firearms and possession of a machine gun.

Kangana Ranaut Backs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: 'She Is Not Here To Please You'

Kangana Ranaut Backs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: 'She Is Not Here To Please You'

Rediff.com25 May 2026

Kangana Ranaut has defended Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Cannes 2026 appearances, shutting down critics by stating, "Fashion and style is a self-expression, it is one's own interpretation of life and their attitude, no woman owes anything to anyone, Ash looks great!!"

9 Major Charges In Sebi's Rajesh Exports Order

9 Major Charges In Sebi's Rajesh Exports Order

Rediff.com4 Jun 2026

The company said Valcambi was the engine driving the group's business, but Valcambi's audited accounts showed revenues that were only a fraction of what the group reported. That raised a major red flag.

India-China border trade via Lipulekh Pass to resume after 6 yrs

India-China border trade via Lipulekh Pass to resume after 6 yrs

Rediff.com20 Mar 2026

Border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district is set to resume this year after a six-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Budget 2026: Is Customs Amnesty Scheme On The Cards?

Budget 2026: Is Customs Amnesty Scheme On The Cards?

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

Total pending Customs arrears, including amounts under litigation, court stays and cases where the appeal period has not expired, stood at about Rs 1.36 trillion at the end of December 2024.

Banks Advised To Use RBI's AI Tool To Combat Cyber Fraud

Banks Advised To Use RBI's AI Tool To Combat Cyber Fraud

Rediff.com30 Apr 2026

Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju has urged banks to adopt the MuleHunter AI tool developed by RBI to identify and prevent mule accounts used in cyber financial frauds. The meeting also discussed 'Operation Octopus' by Hyderabad Police and emphasised coordinated efforts and intelligence sharing.

How IIT Kanpur Is Studying Brain Waves To Understand Stress

How IIT Kanpur Is Studying Brain Waves To Understand Stress

Rediff.com20 May 2026

Researchers at IIT Kanpur are studying alpha waves in the brain to understand how stress affects cognitive functions. The study aims to build automated models of stress dimensions using EEG and correlating them with factors like loss of control, helplessness, and anxiety.

ServiceNow Enhances AI Control Tower For Enterprise Governance

ServiceNow Enhances AI Control Tower For Enterprise Governance

Rediff.com6 May 2026

ServiceNow has announced an expansion of its AI Control Tower offering with new capabilities that give enterprises control over every AI system, agent, and workflow, regardless of where it runs.