GURPREET SINGH SONIK vs COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

Judgment text excerpt

$~53 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 29th August, 2025 + W.P.(C) 13229/2025 GURPREET SINGH SONIK .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Lalltaksh Joshi and Ms. Ananya Sanjiv Saraogi, Advs. versus COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS .....Respondent Through: Mr. Avijit Dikshit, Standing Counsel. CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE SHAIL JAIN JUDGMENT Prathiba M. Singh J. 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. CM APPL. 54206/2025 (for Exemption) 2. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. Application stands disposed of. W.P.(C) 13229/2025 3. The present petition is filed by the Petitioner challenging the detention of his gold chain weighing approximately 100 grams which was detained by the Customs Department vide detention receipt dated 13th March, 2024. 4. The background of the case is that the Petitioner was returning from Bangkok to India on 13th March, 2024 and the gold chain that he was wearing around his neck was detained by the Customs officials. 5. The Petitioner submitted an Affidavit-cum-Self Declaration of Mr. Ranjit Singh Jaura, a resident of Amritsar that has been placed on record, as per which he has stated that he is a gold smith since last 20 years and that he had manufactured the gold chain of the Petitioner weighing approximately 100 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 13229/2025 Page 1 of 3 By:DHIRENDER KUMAR Signing Date:03.09.2025 16:40:26 grams, sometime in 2020-2021. 6. On the basis of this Affidavit-cum-Self Declaration, the Petitioner claims that the said gold chain, which he was wearing while he landed in India ought not to be seized as it is his personal effect. Further, it is submitted that he was wearing the said gold chain while he had departed from India on 27th February, 2024, just 2 weeks prior to the dete