ZINAT BEGUM vs COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

Judgment text excerpt

$~27 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 29th May, 2025 + W.P.(C) 5082/2025 ZINAT BEGUM .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aditya Raj, Mr. Pratham Diwakar and Mr. Pravej Hasan, Advocates. Mr. Ashish Panday, Mr. Ajay Singh, Mr, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Advocates. versus COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS .....Respondent Through: Ms. Anushree Narain, SSC with Mr. Ankit Kumar, Advocate. CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE RAJNEESH KUMAR GUPTA Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral) 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. 2. The present writ petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking release of the jewellery detained by the Customs Department vide Detention Receipt dated 6th December, 2023. 3. The Petitioner is an Indian citizen. It is stated that the Petitioner was returning to India from Mecca, Saudi Arabia after performing religious pilgrimage (“Umrah”) on 06th December, 2023. The Customs Department intercepted her upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. The Petitioner was wearing four gold bangles and one gold ring weighing 132 grams and 50 grams, respectively, (hereinafter “the detained jewellery”) which were detained by the Customs Department. 4. It is the case of the Petitioner that she had personally visited the Signature Not Verified Signed By:NAMITA W.P.(C) 5082/2025 Page 1 of 10 DHYANI Signing Date:02.06.2025 18:34:55 Customs Department seeking status of the detained jewellery as also release of the same. However, the detained jewellery has not been released till date. It is also stated that no show cause notice (hereinafter “SCN”) has been issued in this matter and no personal hearing was also granted. 5. Ms. Anushree Narain, ld. Sr. Standing Counsel for the Customs Department submits tha