CBI Court Sentences Former Central Excise & Customs Inspector to 5 Years in Jail for Rs.32 Crore Fraud

The CBI Court in Visakhapatnam, on 16 September 2025, convicted and sentenced Kalaka Ramdas, then Inspector of Central Excise & Customs, Srikakulam Range, and Polaki Janakiram, a private individual representing M/s Sri Balaji General Trading Company, to five years’ imprisonment in connection with a ₹32.28 crore fraud case.

The court also imposed fines of ₹1,01,000 on Ramdas, ₹2,51,000 on Janakiram, and ₹2,01,000 on the company — a total penalty of ₹5,53,000.

The CBI had registered the case on 30 August 2005. Investigations revealed that Janakiram conspired with Ramdas to cheat the Excise and Customs Department. Janakiram impersonated one Palla Kesava Rao, a non-existent person, and fraudulently established a firm under the name M/s Sri Balaji General Trading Company. Using forged signatures, he applied for a trading license and import–export code with the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ) and also sought recognition from Central Excise for the premises as a warehousing station.

By posing as P. Kesava Rao, Janakiram fraudulently procured duty-free materials from three firms in Maligaon and cleared them as deemed exports to firms in Mumbai, against Advance Release Orders (AROs). This was done in violation of EXIM policy guidelines, in conspiracy with Ramdas and others. Through this fraudulent activity, the accused cheated the Excise and Customs Department of ₹32.28 crore.

Following completion of the investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on 29 August 2008. After trial, the court convicted both accused and pronounced the sentence.

After the judgment, Kalaka Ramdas and Polaki Janakiram were sent to Central Prison, Visakhapatnam.