JUDGMENT :

Can a vehicle be seized by the Customs on an apprehension that it may be used as a means of transport of smuggled goods? The aforesaid question arises for consideration in this writ petition.

2. Petitioner is the owner of a motor car bearing registration No.KL-52-R-9498. Petitioner claims that he is residing in Dubai and doing business there. He alleges that he had handed over the car to one of his family friends as there was none to use his car at his house. Petitioner left for Dubai on 09.06.2022 and returned only on 22.11.2022. On his return, he learnt that his vehicle was seized from the parking area of the Cochin International Airport on 26.07.2022 by the Customs authorities. On further enquiry, it was revealed that two persons had travelled in his car to the airport to receive a passenger carrying 931.73 gms of gold, which was apparently smuggled into the country.

3. Immediately on getting information of the seizure of his vehicle, petitioner filed an application for its release. In the meantime, petitioner realised that the seizure of the vehicle was illegal as, even according to the customs, the vehicle was not used as a means of transport or as a carriage for smugg