Sheetal Mafatlal gets bail, may be released from jail tomorrow

Businesswoman and socialite Sheetal Mafatlal was today granted bail on certain conditions by a local court in a case of alleged evasion of duty on jewellery worth Rs 53 lakhs carried by her on return from London.

However, Sheetal may have to spend another night in the 120-sq feet cell of Byculla jail as formalities for furnishing cash or surety might take time, her lawyer Satish Maneshinde told reporters.

A magistrate released her on bail on Rs five lakh in cash or surety and asked her to deposit Rs 18 lakhs with the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs.

Sheetal was also asked to report to the Customs twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays and told not to leave the country without the permission of the court.

Sheetal was detained at the airport here on Sunday after she was found to be carrying 61 items of assorted jewellery, two wrist watches and a ladies handbag valued by Customs to the tune of Rs 53.67 lakh.

However, Sheetal contended that the value of jewellery carried by her was Rs 20,000 and these items were gifted to her by her parents and in-laws. She denied the Customs allegation that they were purchased abroad.