KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed the petitions filed by Customs officials seeking to discharge them from the charges framed against them in connection with the CBI’s surprise inspection at the Karipur International Airport in Kozhikode in November 2005.In all, 36 Customs officials have been charged with conspiracy and abuse of official position for monetary gain and a chargesheet filed against them in 2007. Justice P Bhavadasan dismissed the pleas of B Unnikrishnan of the Customs Department and seven others challenging the CBI Special Court order.The court observed that the prosecution was able to establish the offences against the accused.The prosecution has produced documents to show that large amounts of unaccounted money were recovered from the bags and tables of some of the officers at the airport.The CBI had conducted raids following a specific complaint that Customs officials were demanding bribe from low-paid employees who were returning fromthe Gulf.At the CBI’s instance, the complainant secretly recorded the demand for bribe made by the Customs officials. The complainant was provided marked currency notes to be given to the bribe-seekers.The CBI raided the Customs Hall after the passenger exited the airport and recovered the marked notes along with unaccounted foreign and Indian currency notes. Further investigation revealed that the bribes collected from the passengers were duly handed over to an agent outside the airport.
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