VIVEK KUMAR SINGH vs COMMISSTONER OF CUSTOMS A G & ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

$~36 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 10th September, 2025 + W.P.(C) 12543/2025 VIVEK KUMAR SINGH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Devanshu Gupta, Adv. along with the Petitioner in person. versus COMMISSTONER OF CUSTOMS A G & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Anushree Narain, SSC and Mr. Naman Choula, Adv. (9625077466) Mr. Jaideep Singh Ahuja, Adv. for Coach. CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE SHAIL JAIN Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral) 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. 2. In the present case, the Petitioner, who is a 19 year old, national-level taekwondo player, has filed this petition challenging the impugned order dated 31st March, 2025 passed by the Office of the Commissioner of Customs (Delhi Airport). 3. The Petitioner was travelling with his coach, Mr. Satwinder Singh along with 12 other team mates to Bangkok to participate in the ‘Buriram Taekwondo International Championship 2022’ in the 54 kg weight category. 4. According to the Petitioner, on their return trip, their coach gave the various team members a gold chain and a silver coated ring to wear, which then got detained on 1st September, 2022 when the team landed in India. 5. The details of the articles which were seized from all the 14 passengers are 14 chains weighing almost 600 grams and 4 silver coated rings weighing Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DEVANSHU JOSHI W.P.(C) 12543/2025 Page 1 of 4 Signing Date:11.09.2025 18:32:22 67 grams. Thus, the total weight of seized gold was to the tune of 667 grams. 6. The statements of all the parties have been recorded and thereafter, the impugned order dated 31st March, 2025 has been passed in the following terms: “ORDER i) I deny the free allowance as admissible to the Noticee for his various acts of commission