Case brief
What is this about?
Delhi High Court, W.P.(C) 11910/2025, decided 08.08.2025 by Prathiba M. Singh and Renu Bhatnagar, JJ. Passenger Saidan challenged, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the Customs detention of four gold bangles (175 grams, purity 981, assessable value Rs. 10,22,098/-) seized at IGI Airport on arrival from Jeddah on 13.02.2024 (DR/INDEL4/13-02-2024/003771). OIO dated 25.04.2024 by Joint Commissioner of Customs, T-3, IGI Airport ordered confiscation under sections 111(d), 111(j), 111(m) of the Customs Act, 1962, redemption on payment of Rs. 1,50,000 fine plus duty under Section 125(3), and penalty of Rs. 1,00,000 under section 112(a)-(b), declaring the passenger ineligible under Notification No. 50/2017-Customs and Baggage Rules, 2016; Order-in-Appeal dated 29.05.2025 upheld the OIO. Since the petitioner agreed to comply with the OIO but the bangles were not released, the Court directed the OIO to be given effect to, waived warehouse charges, and ordered release of the bangles within one week of deposit of all amounts; petition disposed of. Keywords: customs detention, gold bangles, baggage rules, ineligible passenger, confiscation, redemption fine, penalty, Section 125(3), IGI Airport, Article 226.