The Supreme Court of India has put on hold the stringent timeline set by the Bombay High Court for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, to conclude its investigation into the alleged illegal import of dry dates originating from Pakistan.
The apex court has granted the central agency full liberty to carry on its probe without any procedural constraints.
The case stems from an ongoing investigation into the suspected import of prohibited goods under Indian trade laws. The DRI claims the consignment of dry dates, imported by Make India Impex, was routed through Dubai to conceal its true origin—Pakistan, a country from which import of certain agricultural products is restricted.
The controversy began when Make India Impex approached the Bombay High Court, seeking the release of approximately 56 tonnes of dry dates seized by DRI officials. The importer contended that all legal formalities had been duly fulfilled — including payment of Rs. 6.3 lakh in customs duty, and obtaining requisite approvals from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Despite these clearances and the initial release of goods by Customs authorities, the DRI seized the consignment alleging that it was of Pakistani origin, disguised as produce from Dubai.
In its order, the Bombay High Court had imposed a strict timeline on the DRI, directing the agency to issue a show-cause notice within four weeks and to complete adjudication within six weeks thereafter. The Court had further directed that if the DRI failed to meet these deadlines, the seized goods—currently lying at a Container Freight Station (CFS)—should be released, either unconditionally or upon the importer furnishing a redemption fine or bank guarantee.
DRI’s Appeal to the Supreme Court
The DRI challenged the High Court’s order before the Supreme Court, asserting that the investigation was part of a larger transnational smuggling network involving multiple layers of document forgery, trans-shipment manipulation, and origin concealment. The agency argued that the rigid timeline prescribed by the Bombay High Court could undermine the depth and efficacy of the probe and was inconsistent with the procedural framework under the Customs Act, 1962.
The DRI also emphasized that the matter carried serious national security implications, given the involvement of foreign entities and the deliberate misrepresentation of the source country.
While admitting the DRI’s appeal, the Supreme Court observed that investigations of such complex and cross-border nature cannot be constrained by inflexible deadlines. The Court noted that the enforcement agency must be given sufficient time and procedural latitude to uncover the full extent of the alleged smuggling operation.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the Bombay High Court’s order, thereby allowing the DRI and its investigating officers to continue their probe unhindered in accordance with the statutory process.
Case Details
Case Title: Union Of India & Ors. Versus Make India Impex
Case No.: SLP (C) 31205/2025
Date: 31-10-2025
Counsel For Petitioner: N. Venkataraman, A.S.G.
Counsel For Respondent: Azmat Amanullah, Adv./AOR
