ANJALI PANDEY vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

$~76 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 22nd January, 2025. + W.P.(C) 10482/2024 ANJALI PANDEY .....Petitioner Through: Mr. D.S. Chadha, Adv. (Mob: +919818563676) versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Anurag Ojha, Senior standing Counsel with Mr. Subham Kumar, Mr. Vipul Kumar and Mr. Dipak Raj, Advocates (Mob: +916200388793) CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE DHARMESH SHARMA Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral) 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. Brief Background 2. The present petition has been filed under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of an appropriate writ for directing the Respondents to release and return the seized gold ornaments belonging to the Petitioner. 3. The Petitioner is a Thai national who had travelled to Delhi from Thailand on 13th March, 2024. Upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, she was intercepted by the Customs officials who enquired as to whether she was carrying any gold. The Petitioner was wearing three gold bangles which she showed to the Customs officials. Thereafter, the Petitioner was asked to take them off and the said bangles were seized. A detention receipt was issued on the same date i.e., 13th March, 2024. Signature Not Verified W.P.(C) 10482/2024 Page 1 of 15 Digitally Signed By:DHIRENDER KUMAR Signing Date:29.01.2025 16:11 4. According to the Petitioner, the said gold bangles were part of the jewellery which she was wearing in the usual course and there was nothing special in the same. The Petitioner’s three gold bangles weighed about 113 Kgs valued at about Rs.7,42,410/- as per the detention receipt. After the gold bangles were seized, no show cause notice has been issued to the Petitioner till date. Hence