Luxury Watch Smuggling Scandal: Chennai Customs Raid Telangana Minister’s Son’s Residence
Intensive Search at Harsha Reddy’s Residence
Telangana Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy son Harsha Luxury Watch Smuggling Scandal, Chennai Customs officials recently conducted an extensive raid at the residence of Ponguleti Harsha Reddy, the son of Telangana Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, as part of an ongoing investigation into a luxury watch smuggling case. According to TV9 Telugu, the raid lasted for six hours. The Minister, who was in Delhi for official duties, declined to comment on the matter.
Notices Issued to Harsha Reddy
Harsha Reddy received notices from Chennai Customs due to his alleged involvement in the smuggling of high-end luxury watches valued at Rs 1.7 crore. The confiscated watches included the Patek Philippe 5740 and Breguet 2759 models, which were seized from an Indian national returning from Singapore on February 5.
Details of the Smuggling Operation
Investigations revealed that Harsha Reddy purchased these luxury watches from Hong Kong-based Indian dealer Muhammed Faherdeen Mubeen, facilitated by intermediary Alokam Naveen Kumar. Transactions were reportedly conducted using cryptocurrency and hawala money.
Health-Related Deferment and Scheduled Questioning
Harsha Reddy, who also serves as the director of Raghava Projects, denied all allegations. Initially summoned for questioning on April 4, he requested a deferment due to dengue fever, later agreeing to appear on April 27 as per medical advice.
Involvement of High-End Watch Brands
The Patek Philippe and Breguet watches are not typically available through authorized dealers in India. Customs officials, astounded by the value of the watches, arrested Mubeen, who claimed he was transporting the watches on behalf of Naveen Kumar. Further interrogation of Kumar led to Harsha Reddy’s involvement being uncovered.
Payment Methods and Financial Trails
Customs authorities confirmed that the payments for the watches involved a combination of cryptocurrency, specifically Tether from the United States Department of the Treasury (USDT), and hawala transactions. This complicated financial trail has intensified the scrutiny on Harsha Reddy.
Extensive Raids in Hyderabad
The ongoing investigation led Customs officials to Hyderabad, where they conducted raids in Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, and two other locations. During these six-hour searches, officials seized several valuable documents. Both the Minister and his son have remained tight-lipped about the raids, although Hyderabad police, including a cooperating constable, confirmed the developments.
Conclusion
The luxury watch smuggling case involving Harsha Reddy continues to unfold, with Chennai Customs meticulously piecing together the financial and operational details of the smuggling ring. The involvement of high-value brands and sophisticated payment methods highlights the complexity of the case, drawing significant public and media attention. The upcoming questioning of Harsha Reddy is anticipated to provide further insights into this high-profile scandal.