Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Engineer Booked Over Alleged Customs Network Tampering
Police in Nhava Sheva have registered a case about alleged tampering with a Customs Department computer network.
The accused is a resident engineer named Surendra Bhatikare.
The complaint says the interference happened twice, on July 24 and August 1.
Each time, the Customs website reportedly stopped working for about 30 minutes.
The disruption also affected a Customs computer system called ICES.
A Customs Department investigation identified an office at the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House as the place where the interference happened.
Police are trying to find out why it happened and whether anyone else was involved.
The allegations have not been established in court.
Nhava Sheva police registered a case against resident engineer Surendra Bhatikare over alleged interference with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Customs network.
The complaint alleges the network was interfered with at 9:51 a.m. on July 24 and again on August 1.
The Customs website was reportedly non-functional for about 30 minutes on each occasion, affecting ICES operations.
The Customs Department's investigation traced the interference to office B-204 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House.
Police are investigating the motive, the work affected and whether anyone else was involved.
- Who
- Nhava Sheva police registered a case against Surendra Bhatikare, a resident engineer with Ariel Telecom Solutions.
- What
- He is accused of interfering with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Customs Department network and website, disrupting them twice.
- When
- The alleged incidents occurred on July 24 and August 1; the article is dated October 6, 2026.
- Where
- At the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House in Nhava Sheva, Navi Mumbai.
- Why
- The motive is not known; police are investigating why the alleged interference occurred.
- Accused
- Surendra Bhatikare, 48, a resident engineer with Ariel Telecom Solutions
- Reported incidents
- July 24 and August 1, at 9:51 a.m. on July 24
- Reported disruption
- The Customs website was non-functional for around 30 minutes on each occasion
- Affected system
- Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) operations
- Identified location
- Office B-204, second floor, Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House
- Reported charges
- Sections 324(3) and 62 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 43(e)(f), 66 and 70 of the Information Technology Act, 2000
- Investigation
- Police are examining the motive, affected work and whether others were involved