Delhi High Court Grants Relief To National-Level Taekwondo Player In Alleged Gold Smuggling Case

The Delhi High Court has granted relief to a 19 year old, national-level taekwondo player, allegedly involved in gold smuggling at the instance of his coach, while returning to the country from a Championship in Thailand in 2022.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain observed that the gold chain and silver coated ring was handed to the Petitioner, as well as other team members, by the coach.“Though the Petitioner could have refused to carry the said articles, considering the fact that Mr. Satwinder Singh was his coach and the young vulnerable age of the Petitioner, who could not dare to disobey his Coach, benefit of doubt deserves to be given to the Petitioner,” it observed.Petitioner had challenged an order of the Customs Department confiscating the goods and imposing a penalty of Rs.2,00,000/- on the Petitioner.Petitioner claimed that imposition of penalty could stigmatise his career.The High Court had initially taken serious note of the case, stating that a national level taekwondo team, as also a coach, being involved in such smuggling of gold is completely unacceptable, if the allegations are true.Subsequently, the coach admitted that it was him who handed over the gold items to the team members. He also tendered an apology to the Petitioner.“It is clear, therefore, that the Petitioner, who is a national level taekwondo player, had carried the gold chain and ring only upon his coach asking him to do so,” the Court noted.As such, it set aside the penalty imposed on the Petitioner and ordered that the case will not act as being stigmatic to him.Appearance: Mr. Devanshu Gupta, Adv. along with the Petitioner in person; Ms. Anushree Narain, SSC and Mr. Naman Choula, Adv. (9625077466) Mr. Jaideep Singh Ahuja, Adv. for Coach.Case title: Vivek Kumar Singh v. Commissioner Of Customs A G & Anr.Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1113Case no.: W.P.(C) 12543/2025Click here to read order

Delhi High Court Grants Relief To National-Level Taekwondo Player In Alleged Gold Smuggling Case

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