Mumbai: The World Cup trophy has been detained at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji airport for non- payment of duty.
Customs officials have admitted they detained the trophy even though it has to be handed over to the winner.
But, it seems, the joy of their conquest was short lived. The International Cricket Council claim they already have the original trophy.
According to information, the drama began when an Australia national was trying to pass through the green channel carrying a wooden box with the trophy. The trophy, a replica of the World Cup, had been displayed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The customs department demanded that duty for the trophy be paid at Rs1.5 million (Dh124,000).
Incidentally, the customs department had recently withdrawn the Board of Control for Cricket in India's privilege to import sports goods without paying duty.
Photo shoots
Meanwhile, television channels worldwide were already broadcasting shots of Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara holding the World Cup in a photo shoot at the Wankhede stadium on Friday, but customs officials didn't seem to have watched it.
When the news reached the press box, one writer quipped: "It must be that someone in the customs may not have been given a ticket for the final. That trophy can get easily released with one ticket for the final."
Customs officials have admitted they detained the trophy even though it has to be handed over to the winner.
But, it seems, the joy of their conquest was short lived. The International Cricket Council claim they already have the original trophy.
According to information, the drama began when an Australia national was trying to pass through the green channel carrying a wooden box with the trophy. The trophy, a replica of the World Cup, had been displayed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The customs department demanded that duty for the trophy be paid at Rs1.5 million (Dh124,000).
Incidentally, the customs department had recently withdrawn the Board of Control for Cricket in India's privilege to import sports goods without paying duty.
Photo shoots
Meanwhile, television channels worldwide were already broadcasting shots of Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara holding the World Cup in a photo shoot at the Wankhede stadium on Friday, but customs officials didn't seem to have watched it.
When the news reached the press box, one writer quipped: "It must be that someone in the customs may not have been given a ticket for the final. That trophy can get easily released with one ticket for the final."
