The Delhi High Court has directed the customs department to release of ‘name engraved’ Gold Kada.
The bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta has observed that gold kada was a personal effect of the Petitioner as his name `SAI’ was engraved on the same.
The petitioner, Sai Kiran Goud Tirupathi has challenged the seizure of the gold Kada seized.
The Petitioner is an Indian citizen, who was travelling from Mali to India and had landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on 12th March, 2024. He was wearing a gold Kada weighing 50 grams, which was seized by the Customs Department upon arrival. Appraisal of the same was done and the Kada was valued at Rs.2,85,079 as it had 986 average purity.
The petitioner contended that no show cause notice was issued to him and more than one year has elapsed since the detention. Hence, the Petitioner has filed the petition seeking setting aside of the detention order and release of Kada.
The department contended that the Petitioner has waived of the show cause notice and personal hearing. The Order-in-Original has already been passed on 30th January, 2025 directing absolute confiscation of the gold kada.
The court held that the order in original cannot be sustained and the same is accordingly quashed. The gold Kada will be released, however, subject to payment of storage charges.
Case Details
Case Title: Sai Kiran Goud Tirupathi Versus Commissioner Of Customs
Case No.: W.P.(C) 3347/2025
Date: 18th March, 2025
Counsel For Petitioner: Ravi Rathore
Counsel For Respondent: Harpreet Singh, Sr. Standing Counsel
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