HC asks CBI to probe nexus

allahabad: a division bench of the allahabad high court, in a significant judgment, has directed the director, cbi, new delhi to conduct an inquiry about the nexus between the economic offenders and the government officials in the ministry of finance. the court has asked the cbi to submit the report in the court within four months. the bench comprising justice s r singh and justice r k das passed this order while hearing the matter under conservation of foreign exchange and prevention of smuggling activities act, 1974 (cofeposa act) involving evasion of custom duty to the tune of rs.85 lakh. the court passed the order, voicing serious concern over the fact that the detention order under the `cofeposa act' reached the hands of the accused persons before being signed and executed by the authorities concerned. "in the matter like one in hand secrecy should be maintained at all costs. the officials or the persons entrusted with the duty to maintain secrecy if pass on copy of the order or any document, to a person which may ultimately go against the interest of state then they defeat the very purpose of law, a division bench con sisting of justice s r singh and justice r k das observed. the court dismissed a petition filed by balbir singh sethi seeking quashing of the detention order passed under section 3(1) cofeposa act. the detention order was passed to prevent the petitioner from abetting smuggling of goods and keeping the same. the order was passed when two trucks loaded with ball bearing of foreign origin were seized from the premises of doab exim, meerut valued at rs. 3.6 crore on july 2000 involving evasion of customs duty to tune of rs. 85 lakh. the court while dismissing the petition imposed a cost of rs. 5,000.