HC directs inclusion of CBCCE in illegal crackers imports PIL

The Madras High Court today directed to include Central Board of Customs and Central Excise (CBCCE) in a PIL seeking CBI probe into the recent seizure of Chinese crackers at a godown in Sivakasi.
Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice S Vaidhyanathan of the Madurai Bench of the HC, in a special sitting, asked if the Customs Commissioner (Preventive), Tiruchirappalli, was not aware of the ban on import of the crackers and how was it that crackers were being sold in Sivakasi, and if the complaint regarding it, made to the Commissioner at Chennai, had not been brought to their notice.

The Assistant Commissioner replied that they did not receive the copy of the complaint from Chennai office.
The Central Government lawyer submitted that Director General of Trade had banned import of Chinese crackers and described them as "explosive items".
The Assistant Commissioner said they were checking all the suspicious containers and containers of blacklisted companies. The Tuticorin Port would soon be installing X-ray scanner apart from the "gamma scanner" they were having and they would be able to check more containers.
The Judges also directed the Tamil Nadu Amorces and Fireworks Manufacturers Association to give details about sale of Chinese crackers in the state when their advocate said they have specific information about Rs 100 crore worth of Chinese crackers being stored in godowns at various places.

The Judges asked the CBI to provide the details about cases of illegal sale of Chinese crackers.
Virudhunagar SP, Maheswaran said special teams had been formed to nab the two accused from whose shops Chinese crackers were seized recently. He said 50 godowns had been raided by special teams.
Muthkrishnan, executive member of Aditamizhar Peravai, a Dalit outfit, who filed the PIL seeking a CBI inquiry into the illegal sale of Chinese crackers in Sivakasi, also sought checking of all the godowns across the country and find out the origin of Chinese crackers stored in various godowns.