The two officers then sent a wireless message to the chief commissioner of customs alleging that this Moheb Ali, under the influence of alcohol, had asked them to "get out" and "shut up" and asked the captain of the suspect vessel to start the boat and leave before the search could be conducted.

The wireless message also mentioned that the vessel was suspected to be carrying 800 gold biscuits and was moving around without any lights on.

Following the airing of this wireless massage, the customs superiors suspended two M&P inspectors identifiedas SS Mujumdar and one Sarkar on November 20, 1997--apparently for not logging their movements in the official logbook properly. A resident of Colaba in south Mumbai, MK Samtani, who obtained a copy of the wireless message and the suspension order served on the two officers, sent the details to the chief commissioner of customs saying that the suspect vessel, which was intercepted by the two inspectors, could have been carrying arms and explosives besides contraband.

Samtani wrote several letters to the chief commissioner requesting him to initiate action against Moheb Ali for his behaviour, as alleged in the wireless message. He said while the department was prompt in suspending two junior officers for a relatively minor lapse, the serious crime being mentioned in the wireless message was being ignored.

Samtani claimed in his various letters to the chief commissioner, copies of which have been sent to the Union minister of state for finance, the home minister of Maharashtra and the police commissioner ofMumbai, that the documents submitted by him merited serious investigation.

Deputy commissioner of customs, Madhu Mohan Damodar, attached to the chief commissioner's unit at Mumbai custom house, has since written to Samtani that "necessary action is already being taken in the matter" and asked him not to send any further reminders on the issue.

Samtani claims that two assistant commissioners and a superintendent from the M&P wing of customs visited him recently seeking to know who had provided him with the documents and asking him to refrain from precipitating the matter any further. The issue involving the suspension of two junior officers has already caused heartburn among the preventive staff attached to the M&P wing, especially since it is not clear whether Moheb Ali was sent for medical examination to check whether he was under the influence of alcohol--as alleged in the wireless message.