RUJIRA NAROOLA Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The facts of this case are like those in a thrilling novel. The appellant arrived in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata in the intervening night between 15/3/2019 and 16/3/2019 by a Thai Airways flight. She is a Thai national and holds an Overseas Citizen of India card. She says she "permanently" resides in a premises on Harish Mukherjee Road in this City.

(2.) The Custom authorities became suspicious of her and had wanted to check her baggage.According to them she resented this. Her baggage was checked by the x-ray machine. According to Mr. Lekhi, the learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the customs authorities the X-ray report revealed that she was carrying a significant quantity of gold. No image derived from this X-ray scanning suggesting the presence of gold is produced before us. This allegation is disputed by the appellant. Thereafter, the version of the Customs authorities is that, they wanted to open the suitcase, check it and make further search and investigation. Allegedly, the appellant had an all pervasive influence over the airport police. She called them in. They obliged and facilitated the escape of the appellant from the airport.

(3.) She managed to leave the airport and reach her home safely. On 16/3/2019 the appellant lodged a complaint with the Inspector- in-charge of the Airport Police station. She said that she was harassed, intimated and threatened by the Customs authorities. It appears from the records that after a week on 22/3/2019 the Customs authorities submitted a written complaint to the Air Port police.