Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has launched a country-wide probe against top corporate houses and high net-worth individuals who illegally operate foreign registered private aircrafts in India leading to Customs duty evasion to the tune of crores of rupees.

Sources in the DRI, an enforcement agency under the Finance Ministry said, it has already begun the process of issuing show-cause notices to a number of such entities after it got relevant information on the alleged illegal operations of a number of high-end jets from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Delhi.

DRI, according to sources, has also contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard, as the Ministry keeps a detailed log of these aircraft due to the security angle attached to their flying operations.