Two expensive watches of Indian cricket team’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya have recently been confiscated by the Mumbai Customs Department. It is being claimed in media reports that the price of these two watches of Hardik is around Rs 5 crore. According to the customs department, Hardik did not have the bills for this watch nor did he declare these watches in his luggage. Meanwhile, Team India’s all-rounder has given his clarification on this whole matter.
Hardik Pandya said that he had watches and other items of which he himself had given information to the department. At the same time, he also said that he has already told the department that he will pay whatever duty is made on him. Not only this, this player of Mumbai Indians also said that the price of watches is not five but 1.5 crore rupees.
Hardik said in his statement, ‘After picking up my luggage on arrival from Dubai in the morning on November 15, I went to the customs officials of Mumbai airport to inform about the luggage brought with me. I also went there to pay the required customs duty for the goods. False news is doing the rounds on social media that I have not announced Mumbai airport. And I want to clear all the controversy regarding this.
He further wrote, ‘I myself gave information about the goods purchased legally from Dubai and I was ready to pay the necessary duty on that goods. For your information, let me also tell you that whatever documents were asked for by the Customs Department regarding the purchase, their information was also submitted. However, the customs department is evaluating the goods so that the duty can be recovered, which I have already promised to pay.
He says, ‘The price of the watch is around Rs 1.5 crore and not Rs 5 crore as is being rumored on social media.’ Hardik said, ‘I am a law-abiding citizen and respect all government institutions. I have got full cooperation from the Mumbai Customs department and I have assured them of full cooperation. And at the same time I will get them all the necessary legal documents. All allegations of violation of legal limits against me are baseless.
News agency ANI quoted Mumbai Customs Department as saying in its tweet that, Customs seized two wrist watches worth Rs 5 crore of cricketer Hardik Pandya on Sunday night (November 14) when he was returning from Dubai. The cricketer reportedly did not have the bill receipt for the watches.
The Indian team has returned home after being out of the ICC T20 World Cup. Let us tell you that Hardik is very fond of expensive watches. He has a collection of watches from the rarest and most expensive brands including the Patek Philippe Nautilus Platinum 5711. T20 World Cup 2021 was nothing special for Pandya.