Sushmita Sen has been asked to appear before the Madras High Court on September 18 to give evidence in a 10-year-old case regarding the import of a luxury car. “On the said date, the trial judge after concluding matters by calling and emergency matters shall take up this matter and cross-examine the petitioner. The same shall be completed on the same day itself,” the judge said.
The police have been asked to give additional protection to Sen and her belongings by the court.
The case relates to the misuse of the ‘Transfer of Residence’ scheme in order to import luxury cars. The first accused in the case, Haren Choksey, sold a Toyota Land Cruiser imported by the second accused, Vasu Pandari Thamala who sold it to Sen.
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On January 24, 2006, the DRI seized the car under the provisions of the Customs Act, following which Sen voluntarily deposited Rs 20.31 lakh as a differential customs duty. The adjudication authority, then imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakh on Thamala and Rs 10 lakh on Choksey in March 2008.
The car was cleared by the Chennai port customs authority, and so a case was registered with the HC against Choksey and Thamala for evading customs duty. Sen is expected to provide evidence against the duo. She failed to do so once before, and subsequently, a warrant was issued in her name. Now that she is expected to appear before the court, the warrant stands cancelled.