The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, arrested Rizwan Iqbal Chunawala (49) and Sajid Hanif Jada (44) for allegedly masterminding a Rs60 crore luxury furniture import fraud under the banner of import firm Design Decode. The two have been booked under the Customs Act for significant tax evasion.
Chunawala, the proprietor of Design Decode, and Jada, the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) holder, were taken into custody after investigations revealed systematic undervaluation of branded furniture consignments imported since September 2021.
Based on specific intelligence, DRI officials raided multiple premises, including the company’s location in Laxmi Industrial Estate, Andheri, and found incriminating documents proving deliberate undervaluation and manipulation of import records.
According to the DRI, Design Decode filed 392 bills of entry, declaring goods worth Rs24 crore. However, the actual value of the imported luxury furniture was around Rs60 crore, resulting in the evasion of over Rs20 crore in customs duty, Integrated GST (IGST), and Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS).
Both accused are now in custody as investigations continue into the full scope of the operation.
