LAWS(SC)-2026-4-56

PRIYANKA SARKARIYA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

Decided On April 16, 2026
Priyanka Sarkariya Appellant
V/S
UNION OF INDIA Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners being aggrieved over the impugned judgments dtd. 19/12/2025 rendered by the Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka upholding the Detention Orders dtd. 22/4/2025, issued in exercise of the powers under Sec. 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (for short, 'COFEPOSA Act'), are before us praying that the detenus - Smt. Harshavardhini Ranya in SLP (Criminal) No. 24/2026 and Shri Sahil Sarkariya Jain in SLP (Civil) No. 1484/2026 be set at liberty.

(2.) Heard Mr. Amol B. Karande and Mr. T. Chezhiyan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner - Priyanka Sarkariya in SLP (Civil) No. 1484/2026 and Mr. R. Basant, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner - H.P. Rohini in SLP (Criminal) No. 24/2026 and the learned Additional Solicitor General of India ('ASG') appearing on behalf of the respondents. We have also perused the records and relevant documents necessary for the adjudication of the present Special Leave Petitions.

(3.) It is the specific case of the respondents that the detenu - Shri Sahil Sarkariya Jain had facilitated the disposal of consignments of foreign-marked gold bars on four different occasions between 14/11/2024 and 14/2/2025, along with the other detenu - Smt. Harshavardhini Ranya.