MUMBAI, Nov 18: Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai, Govindan Thampi was transferred to the post of Director General, Service Tax, on Monday. The transfer came as a surprise to many in Customs House since Thampi had only taken over in March this year.

Bakul Bakshi, who was Commissioner (Airport) until Monday, took over as Chief Commissioner on Tuesday. The Mumbai Customs Commissionerate includes Mumbai, Nhava Sheva and the Airport. The transfer evoked a certain amount of speculation since the Directorate of Service Tax is a virtually unknown office. Besides, Thampi enjoyed a good reputation in the department and was largely non-controversial.

The news of his transfer is also being received with some curiosity since a city paper had recently carried a series of reports on the prevalent corruption in the Customs department.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.