S. ZAHIR HUSSAIN Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition was filed in the year 2011 to forbear the respondents from acting upon the detention order dtd. 30/12/2010 and detaining the petitioner under Sec. 3(1) of The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act,1974 (hereinafter referred to as 'the COFEPOSA').

(2.) The petitioner started a sole proprietary concern in the year 2000 to carry on the business of import of car accessories. The petitioner who claims to be a public spirited person, wanted to expose rampant corruption that was prevailing in the Customs Department. The petitioner also founded a Trust in the year 2004 in this regard. Various representations/complaints were made to the higher authorities of the Customs Department and to the concerned Ministry about the corruption that was prevailing in the Customs Department. Some of the complaints given by the petitioner also ended up in action being taken against some of the authorities belonging to the Customs Department. In short, the petitioner claims to be a whistleblower.

(3.) The further case of the petitioner is that many of the customs officials had a grudge against the petitioner and hence, false cases were foisted against the petitioner.