Delhi Customs seizes diamond-studded gold bracelet at IGI Airport

Delhi Customs officials seized a diamond-studded gold bracelet valued at over Rs 1.07 crore at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The bracelet, weighing 87.5 grams and containing approximately 50 carats of diamonds, was recovered from two Turkish nationals arriving from Istanbul. Both individuals were arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.

Separately, the Delhi High Court has addressed legal challenges regarding the detention of gold by customs authorities. In two distinct cases involving passengers arriving from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, the court refused to order the immediate or unconditional release of gold bars.

The court ruled that the absence of a written show-cause notice does not automatically mandate the release of seized goods, particularly when passengers have previously made statements regarding non-declaration. The court directed the Customs Department to complete the formal adjudication process and provide necessary hearings to determine the legality of the proceedings.