Ramdiya Verma Vs Commissioner of Customs New Delhi & Anr. (Delhi High Court)
The Delhi High Court addressed a petition by Mr. Ramdiya Verma regarding the detention of his gold kada and the alleged illegal seizure of his Thai Baht by Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport. While the court directed the appellate authority to decide on the gold kada detention within a month, a significant aspect of the hearing concerned the seized foreign currency. Mr. Verma claimed that 122,000 Thai Baht were seized without a detention receipt, and he filed a complaint with the Chief Commissioner of Customs.
The High Court emphasized that upon receiving such complaints of illegal seizure, the Customs department has a responsibility to immediately preserve relevant CCTV footage, given its limited availability of around 30 days. The court noted that footage from both arrival and departure could be crucial in verifying the traveler’s claims, including whether Mr. Verma was wearing the gold kada at departure. Recognizing the seriousness of the allegation, the court directed the Commissioner of Customs to conduct a thorough inquiry into the complaint regarding the Thai Baht seizure and take appropriate action based on the findings.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF DELHI HIGH COURT
