A Customs Intelligence Superintendent at the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), who was shunted out after he refused entry to the aide of an NRI businessman into the sensitive emigration area of the airport, was reinstated following the intervention of the higher-ups in Delhi.

On December 30, The Indian Express had reported that E Avaran was removed from the intelligence unit after he did not allow entry into emigration area for an aide of EMKE group chairman M K Abdulla, who is a close relative of CIAL director M A Yousuf Ali.

The superintendent was removed by Deputy Commissioner of Customs S A S Navas saying denial of entry into the emigration area had caused mental hardship for Abdullas assistant, who came to receive his boss.

Following the report, Sreela Ghosh, member (legal and judicial) and the zonal member of the Central Board of Customs and Central Excise, New Delhi, sought comments on the transfer and called for a report from the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Kochi, on how outsiders were availing all entry pass at the airport flouting norms. Subsequently, Avaran was re-instated with effect from February 8.

Sources said the Customs had reported that CIAL had been issuing all-area passes on behalf of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and not by the Customs. It said passes should be subject to the approval by Customs since the whole of the airport area is under Customs control and declared as Customs Area.