Vivek Kumar Singh Vs Commisstoner of Customs A G & Anr (Delhi High Court)
The Delhi High Court has set aside a penalty imposed on a 19-year-old national-level taekwondo player, Vivek Kumar Singh, by the Commissioner of Customs, Delhi Airport. The court’s decision came after it was established that the player had been given gold items to carry by his coach. The judgment in the case, Vivek Kumar Singh Vs Commissioner of Customs A G & Anr, underscores the court’s consideration for the petitioner’s young and vulnerable age, which it found to be a mitigating factor.
The case originated from an incident on September 1, 2022, when a taekwondo team, including Singh and his coach, Satwinder Singh, returned to India from Bangkok. According to the petition, the coach had given the team members gold chains and rings to wear. Customs officials at the airport intercepted the group and seized a total of 667 grams of gold, which included 14 chains and four rings, valued at approximately Rs. 28.81 lakh. The seizure led to an order dated March 31, 2025, from the Commissioner of Customs.
The impugned order declared all 14 passengers “ineligible Passengers” and ordered the absolute confiscation of the seized goods. It also imposed substantial penalties, including Rs. 5 lakh on the coach, Mr. Satwinder Singh, and Rs. 2 lakh on each of the other team members, including the petitioner. The Commissioner’s order cited various sections of the Customs Act, 1962, including 111(d), 111(i), 111(j), 111(m), 111(o), 112(a), 112(b), and 114AA.
