Delhi High Court rules NRI's gold chain must return

A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is set to reclaim his gold chain that was seized by Indian customs at Delhi airport. The seizure occurred when the man arrived from the United Arab Emirates to attend a friend’s wedding in Kerala on April 9, 2024. After customs officials intercepted him, they took his gold chain weighing 28 grams and valued at approximately Rs 1,76,488. Although he argued that the chain was his personal property and not subject to customs duties, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs refused to return it and imposed a penalty. The NRI eventually took his case to the Delhi High Court, arguing that he was an eligible passenger under the Baggage Rules, 2016. After nearly a year of legal battle, the court ruled in his favor on March 10, 2025. The court found that the customs officials had violated his rights by not providing a show cause notice or a personal hearing before the seizure. The court clarified that personal items like the NRI’s gold chain are exempt from customs confiscation if they are part of an eligible passenger's belongings. The judgment emphasized that the NRI should be treated similarly to Indian residents concerning customs duties on personal effects. With the ruling, the court quashed the customs authority’s order and removed all penalties. The NRI will receive his gold chain back within two weeks. Legal experts recognize this case as a significant affirmation of the rights of NRIs related to personal items brought into India.