Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dominated the list of 35 Customs officers who were awarded Presidential medal this year, announced on the eve of the Republic Day. At least 12 of the awardees are from the premier revenue intelligence agency, including P N Pandey, who had investigated the imported car scam in 2005 that led to a crackdown on film stars and politicians.

Pandey, an additional director-rank officer and posted in the Indian Consulate in Hong Kong, has been an ace investigator and had solved several economic offence cases during his stint at DRI's Delhi zone office prior to his overseas assignment.

G Sreenivasa Rao of DRI Mumbai zone and Gurusharan Singh of directorate of central excise intelligence (DGCEI), both additional director-rank officers, were among 35 Customs officers who have bagged the prestigious award.

S S Bajaj, joint director with the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai, has also been awarded the presidential medal. Recently, the ED's Mumbai's office was involved in conducting a probe in the IPL affairs and some of biggest money-laundering cases such as the Hassan Ali probe.

Most of the other awardees were in the rank of intelligence officers and senior intelligence officers posted with the DRI and the DGCEI among other Customs formations. Of these, nine were from the DRI alone, who are responsible for crackdown on drug syndicates and fake Indian currency note racket.