JUDGMENT

PATHAK, CJI.:— This appeal by certificate granted by the High Court of Calcutta is directed against the judgment dated 31 July, 1970 of that High Court partly allowing a writ petition arising out of proceedings under the Customs Act, 1962.

2. On 5 May, 1966, noticing an advertisement in a newspaper offering imported manual and electric typewriters, adding and calculating machines, the Customs authorities raided the premises of Messrs. Typewriters and Stationery Operation Private Limited,. Calcutta, on the same day and recovered fifteen typewriters, adding and calculating machines. The machines had been sold to the company by R. N. Bagh, who in turn disclosed that he had purchased them from the crew members of some vessels. On 7 May, 1966, the Customs Officers searched the residence and business premises of Messrs. Central Typewriter Company and recovered several typewriters and calculating and adding machines. From some documents seized during the raid and statements recorded, it appeared that there was a conspiracy between the respondents and some of the crew members of certain vessels where it was agreed that the respondents would look after and maintain the families of t