YASHWANT KUMAR SIDHWANI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Yashwant Kumar Sidhwani. resident of Flat No. 1 'Ankur' Mid Chowki' Marwa Road, Sai Baba Park, Maland. Bombay, has been detained by virtue of an order dated 26th July, 1985 passed by the Administrater of the Union Territory of Delhi under section 3(1) read with section 2(f) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 with a view to preventing him for abetting the smuggling of gold into India. The detention and continued detention has been challenged by the petitioner on diverse grounds in this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

(2.) According to the grounds of detention on 23rd July, 1984 one Mohan Lal son of Shri Bhola Ram of Kanpore arrived from Dubai by Air India flight No. AI-860. After collecting the baggage he opted for green channel. He was intercepted by the Superintendent, Air Customs, who during the course of inquiry found his movements suspicious and therefore, diverted his baggage for detailed examination before two independent witnesses. Before the witnesses, Mohan Lal was specifically asked whether he was having. V.C.R., gold or watches etc. to which he replied in the negative. Thereafter, his baggage consisting of one blue colour zipper suitcase and two hand begs were examined. As a result of examination, two steam presses, 10 films, 2 pieces of textile and one bottle of whisky and one carton of cigatettes collectively valued at Rs. 950.00 were recovered in excess of free allowance. The steam presses recovered from his baggage were found exceptionally heavy and were got opened. On opening the water chamber of one steam press, it was found to contain 19 gold biscuits of 10 tolas each bearing foreign malkings concealed in the water chamber. The other press was also got opened and found to contain 19 gold biscuits of 10 tolas each with foreign markings and one stone studed gold ring corcealed in the water chamber. On demand he could not produce any evidence documentary or otherwise for the lawful import of the above said gold in the form of 38 gold biscuits and one gold ring collectively valued at Rs. 7,61,000.00 . These goods were, therefore, seized under the Customs Act as also under FERA on the reasonable belief that the same have illegally been smuggled into India and are, therefore, liable for confiscation. Mohan Lal in his voluntary statement dated 24th July 1984 recorded under section 108 of the Customs Act while admitting the recovery of the gold etc., stated inter-alia that one Kishan Lal working in the State Bark of India. Kanpur bad suggested him to go abroad. He had given him letter addressed to the petitioner stating that he would arrange for his employment. Accordingly Mohan Lal gave his passport and letter to the petitioner at Bombay. the petitioner arranged for his ticket as also two more tickets, one for Bhagwan Dass and the other for Smt. Dharma. The petitioner also gave some foreign exchange to Bhagwan Dass. All these three persons reached Dubai on 9th March, 1984 and they reached the shop of Ishwar Dass and the driver of Ishwar Dass picked them up from the Airport. Mohan Lal returned from Dubai on 13th March. 1984. Ishwar Dass had given him one Video, one T.V. and some new clothes ard had told him to take care of those goods. He had further told him that any person of the petitioner who may come to receive him at the airport, the goods should be handed over to him. One his arrival at Bombay Airport a person employed by the petitioner had received him. That person did not have enough money to pay the custom duty and as such the T.V. and the Video were left in the Customs which were got released after 8 or 10 days on paying the custom duty of Rs. 14,500.00 . In (urn Mohan Lal got air ticket, boarding/lodging expenses besides awatch and some clothes from that person According to him, be again went to Bombay CD or around 14th July, 1984. At that occasion, the petitioner was not in Bombay and Ishwar Dass's brother-in-law met him and be arranged for booking a seat for him to Dubai on 18th July, 1984. He also arranged for foreign currency. He came back from Dubai to Delhi on 23rd July, 1984 by Air India Flight No. AI-860. It is on this trip that he was apprehended and gold was recovered.

(3.) The grounds of detention run into as many as 25 pages and arc in the form of narration of facts. Various people were interrogated and had made statements under section 108 of the Customs Act. Many of them have tried to involve the petitioner but in none of the statements there is a mention of smuggling of any gold.