AKMAL USMANOV THROUGH AZIZA vs COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 18th August, 2025 W.P.(C) 8856/2025 AKMAL USMANOV THROUGH AZIZA .....Petitioner Through: Dr. Ashutosh, Ms. Fatima, Mr. Parvej Hasan, Advocates. versus COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS .....Respondent Through: Mr. Satish Aggarwala, SSC. CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE SHAIL JAIN JUDGMENT Prathiba M. Singh, J. 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. Background: 2. The present petition has been filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, inter alia, assailing the detention of the gold chain of the Petitioner weighing 84 grams. 3. This Petition is stated to have been filed by the Petitioner on behalf of her brother, who was a passenger on 30th January, 2024 while arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi from Russia. On the said date, the gold chain of the Petitioner weighing about 84 grams was detained by the Customs department. 4. It is the case of the Petitioner that on the basis of an authority letter dated 5th February, 2024 issued by the Petitioner herein, the appraisement of the gold chain of the Petitioner was done on 29th May, 2024, on which date, the detention receipt