PRITPAL SINGH SETHI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has filed this petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India. It is prayed in the petition that order of detention dated 13th December, 1993 passed under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 by Mr. Mahendra Prasad, Joint Secretary to the Government of India be quashed and the petitioner/detenu be released forthwith.

(2.) On the basis of secret information, it was learned that the petitioner was going abroad frequently with huge amount of foreign exchange. On 30th November, 1993, information was received that the petitioner had gone to Dubai by Air India Flight No AI-733 with a huge amount of foreign currency.

(3.) On the basis of aforesaid information on 30.11.1993, the petitioner/detenu was apprehended on Air India aircraft IA-733 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, and foreign currencies viz. DM 60500, Can.$ 20200. UK Pound 800, Guilder 5000 and UAE Dihram 55 were recovered and seized from the petitioner.