Four-Decade-Old Smuggling Case: Conviction Affirmed, Sentence Mitigated on Equitable Grounds

Amad Noormamad Bakali Vs State of Gujarat & Ors. (Supreme Court of India) The Supreme Court considered appeals arising from a common judgment of the Gujarat High Court affirming the conviction of several accused under Section 135(1)(b)(i) of the Customs Act, 1962. The prosecution case stemmed from a 1985 recovery of 777 foreign-made wrist watches and 879 watch straps concealed in pits near Mandvi. The goods, valued at Rs. 2,22,190/-, were allegedly smuggled into India aboard a vessel, and multiple accused were charged with knowingly dealing in goods liable to confiscation. The trial court ...