RIYADH: Even as India’s beleaguered ruling dispensation the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) manages to hold on to power with the support of regional outfit, Samajwadi Party (SP), it seems the latter has started showing its influence. The first thing that happened after SP declared its support to the government on controversial nuclear deal with the US which it was opposing tooth and nail till last week, was the confiscation of private Airbus 319 of one of the world’s 10 richest people, Mukesh Ambani, on allegation of duty evasion.
The aircraft is supposed to be Mukesh’s birthday gift to his wife Nita Ambani who turned 44 last year. However, his archrival and younger brother Anil — also among the top ten richest people in the world — is a member of the SP and is seen to be playing his cards through the party to settle the business or personal scores.
Both brothers have turned bitter rivals over the last five years and the Reliance Industries — India’s largest private sector, which the elder brother Mukesh headed — split in two parts. The two brothers shared the hard earned booty amassed and raised by their village born, barely educated and once poor father, the legendry Dhirubhai Ambani.
Ever since the splitsville, the two groups have been doing everything they can to embarrass each other through their overt and covert moves on the business and social fronts.
As far as customs are concerned they have official reasoning and they seem to suggest that there is no politics and it is a simple case of the rule of law that is being implemented without fear or favor. “It has been alleged that the aircraft were imported for private use, in the guise of non-scheduled operator (passenger) permit,” a spokesperson of the Central Board of Excise and Customs has said it on record. An aircraft imported for running chartered flights draws 10 percent customs duty. The duty is 18 percent for personal use.
The luxury jet costing Indian Rs.2900 million (SR275 million) has a sky bar with mood lighting and fancy showers in the master bathroom. It is supposed to be custom-fitted with a designer master bedroom, an office, entertainment cabins with game consoles, music systems, satellite television and wireless communication. The jet was delivered by Airbus at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and later brought to Mumbai. It is learned that the commissioner of customs (preventive), Delhi, has issued a show cause notice to the Reliance, demanding the additional duty and the fine money. It is learned that one of the directors of Reliance is being questioned.
For the rich senior Ambani paying the extra amount is no big deal. According to sources, he already owns 10 planes and helicopters. What must have hurt him is his projection as duty evader that too on such a precious thing meant to be a gift for his wife. Worse, this has happened when his brother’s party got closer to the ruling alliance. Is it too much of coincidence? The case is the first of its kind and there may be more private plane users on custom’s radars. However, eyebrows are raised simply because the way personal battles are being fought in public as two brothers hog limelight more for their fights than their business deals!
