Delhi High Court Orders Economic Offences Wing To Probe Alleged Forgery Of Customs Stamps At Airport

The Delhi High Court has asked the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police to conduct an enquiry into alleged forgery of Customs stamps at the Delhi International Airport.A division bench comprising justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain passed the direction after the Department claimed that the Customs stamp on an air traveller's representations in connection with their seized gold was fake.When an air traveller makes a representation to the Customs, the Department returns a receipt with its stamp.In the case at hand, an Indian family's gold jewellery was seized at the airport on their return from a wedding in Dubai.Petitioners claimed to have made two representations to the Department— one on 21 March, 2023 requesting to not dispose of the gold jewellery and second on 19 July, 2023 for redemption of the gold jewellery. However, they were informed that the gold jewellery had been disposed of (on 15th May, 2023).The Department submitted that the two representations carry fake stamps of the Customs Department.Petitioner seriously disputed this position, stating that passengers do not have any way to submit representations to the Customs Department as their counter is situated inside the airport and hence, passengers are constrained to request the staff members to submit the representation, and return the same with a stamp. It was submitted that this is precisely the course adopted in the present case. The Court thus ordered, “Let an enquiry be conducted by the Delhi Police (Economic Offences Wing) in the Customs Department at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.”For the purpose of the aforesaid enquiry, Petitioner shall show the original representation to the Delhi Police (Economic Offences Wing), which shall then inquire into the whole matter, and file a status report before the Court.The Petitioners have also been asked to file an affidavit explaining how the representations were submitted to the Department.The Court further noted that presently, there is no counter of the Customs Department outside the airport and the only way aggrieved passengers can enter the airport to make a representation is by obtaining a pass from the Airport Authority of India.Stating such arrangement to be “insufficient”, the Court directed,“The Commissioner of Customs and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (hereinafter 'CBIC') ought to consider setting up an information counter, where the representations can be submitted by the passengers. At such counters assistance ought to be provided to passengers who wish to have contact with the Customs Department, in order to submit representations, submit replies, attend personal hearings, obtain copies of orders etc.”Significant to note that recently, in Imran vs. Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport the same bench had directed the Customs Department to become citizen friendly and accessible at the Delhi airport.The matter is next listed on November 25.Appearance: Mr. Harsh Trikha, Adv for Petitioner; Mr. Gibran Naushad, SSC with Mr. Harsh Singhal, Mr. Suraj Shekhar Singh, Advs. and Mr. Birender Singh Khati, Assistant Commissioner of Customs (Refund) Case title: Ms. Puja Jayant & Ors. v. Commissioner Of Customs, IGI AirportCitation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1249Case no.: W.P.(C) 13995/2025Click here to read order

Delhi High Court Orders Economic Offences Wing To Probe Alleged Forgery Of Customs Stamps At Airport

Kapil Dhyani

Tags