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Journalism of Courage
When socialite Sheetal Mafatlals bail plea comes up for hearing on Tuesday,the prosecution will debate whether she had flouted Customs rules by carrying excess jewellery on earlier flights,too.
Mafatlal was handed over to judicial custody on the ground that police custody was not essential. Her advocate applied for bail but the prosecution sought,and got,time till Tuesday. We need to argue that Mafatlal might have been indulging in such acts earlier too, prosecutor Arun Gupte.
The prosecution argued that Mafatlal,a frequent traveller between London and Mumbai,is well aware of the rules on how much jewellery she can carry. The defence,on the other hand,claimed her jewellery is inherited and she did not know carrying it is illegal.
Ignorance of law is no defence, said Gupte,pointing out that Mafatlal,a non-resident Indian settled in London for four years,travels to India very often and is acquainted with Customs rules.
The rule is that any jewellery worth over Rs 20,000 and studded with stones and pearls is liable to duty; a declaration has to be made explaining the worth and purpose,Gupte said,arguing that Mafatlal had declared goods worth only Rs 20,000.
For the defence,advocate Satish Maneshinde contended that all the ornaments Mafatlal was carrying had been inherited from her family and her in-laws. She wears these ornaments and she did not realise if it falls under the ambit of custom duty, said Maneshinde.
The prosecution alleged that 90 per cent of the jewellery was brand new and it was a case of smuggling.
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