Mohammad Shahid Vs Commissioner of Customs & Ors (Delhi High Court)
The Delhi High Court has directed the Customs Department to release gold items seized from a passenger, Mohammad Shahid, who arrived from Saudi Arabia. The items, which included two gold bangles and seven silver-coated gold coins, were detained at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in March 2022.
Shahid filed a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, arguing that no show cause notice had been issued. The Customs Department contended the items were not personal effects under the Baggage Rules, 2016 and that the gold coins were concealed as silver.
The court’s decision mandated Shahid to appear before the Customs Department on July 31, 2025, and seek the release of the goods upon paying applicable customs duties and warehousing charges. The petition was disposed of based on these terms. There were no judicial precedents cited in this case.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF DELHI HIGH COURT
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. The present petition has been filed by the Petitioner under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, inter alia, seeking release of the two gold bangles, weighing 38 grams, and seven silver coated gold coins, weighing 78 grams, (hereinafter, ‘goods’) seized by the Customs Department vide detention receipt bearing no. DR/INDEL4/22-06-2024/004675 dated 22nd June 2024.
