Mumbai Court Denies Bail to Airport Employee in ₹4.80 Crore Gold Smuggling Case

A Mumbai metropolitan magistrate court has rejected the bail plea of Shahin Shaikh, an airport employee arrested on suspicion of gold smuggling. Shaikh was apprehended on May 19 at the airport carrying eight capsules containing 2,930 grams of 24-carat gold valued at ₹4.80 crore.

Shaikh's defence lawyer argued she had no connection to the alleged offence and was made a scapegoat, citing her family circumstances including five daughters and a husband unable to support them. However, the prosecution submitted that Shaikh had admitted to possessing, concealing and failing to declare the seized gold.

The court observed that Shaikh appeared to be protecting the actual importer and that her presence was necessary for tracing the main accused. The judge noted the investigation was still in early stages and directed deeper scrutiny based on facts presented by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.