$~89 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 18770/2025 VENKATA MANI BHASKARA RAO KONDANGI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Harsh Trikha, Adv.

versus COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, IGI AIRPORT & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Appearance not given CORAM:

JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE SHAIL JAIN

O R D E R

% 10.12.2025

1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

CM APPL. 78141/2025

2. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. The Application is disposed of.

W.P.(C) 18770/2025

3. The present petition has been filed by the Petitioner seeking release of his one gold Kada weighing 98 grams, purity 957 (hereinafter, ‘the gold kada’).

4. The Petitioner is an Indian national who was working in Liberia, and had arrived in India on 17th April, 2024. It is his case that upon his arrival at the IGI Airport, New Delhi, the gold kada was seized by the Customs Authoritiesandatthetimeofappraisementthesamewaswronglymentioned as elongated gold metal.

5. No Show Cause Notice (hereinafter, ‘SCN’) is stated to have been issuedandnohearingwasalsogranted.However,theOrder-In-Originalwas passed on 16^th July 2024 (hereinafter, ‘the OIO’), directing absolute confiscation of the gold kada along with a penalt