Madras High Court Permits Mother, Minor Daugther To Seek Return Of Gold Jewellery Detained At Trichy Airport

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has allowed a mother and her minor daughter to approach the Customs authorities for the return of gold jewellery detained at Trichy Airport.

The Court directed them to submit an application before the Customs authorities seeking return of the jewellery.

Justice C. Saravanan passed the order while disposing of petitions filed by the mother and daughter challenging the detention of gold jewellery weighing 22.20 grams and 30.50 grams, valued at ₹2.89 lakh and ₹3.97 lakh respectively.

The petitioners had arrived in India from Saudi Arabia on July 4, 2026. Both held Indian passports and residential visas in Saudi Arabia.

The jewellery carried by them was detained after Customs authorities found that it exceeded the quantity permissible under the Indian Customs Baggage Rules, 2026.

The petitioners submitted that they had come to India to attend a marriage function in Tenkasi scheduled for July 12, and that the jewellery was their personal property.

They contended that the jewellery was neither intended to be smuggled into India nor sold in the country. They further submitted that they intended to take the jewellery back to Saudi Arabia when they travelled there the following week.

Considering the submissions, the Court permitted the petitioners to submit suitable representations/applications before the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Air Customs, Trichy Airport, seeking return of the seized jewellery.

The Court directed the Customs authority to adjudicate the applications.

The Court further observed that since there was no question of the jewellery being sold in India and it was intended to be taken back to Saudi Arabia, a minor penalty could be imposed for the infraction of the Customs Act and the Rules, after obtaining the petitioners' consent, as a deterrent against future violations.

The petitions were accordingly disposed of, with no order as to costs.

For Petitioner: Advocate S. Ramanathan

For Respondent: Senior Central Government Standing Counsel R. Gowri Shankar