A.Muhamed Mustaque, J. This writ petition challenging a detention order under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) was filed by the wife of the detenu.

2. The petitioner-Shafina Siraj is the wife of Siraj V.E. A search was conducted on 19/6/2023 at M/s.Crescent Collection near Sridhar Cinema Broadway, Kochi. During the search, foreign currencies of 700 U.A.E. Dirham and Indian currency amounting to Rs.5 lakhs were found and seized. The detention order has been W.P.(Crl.).No.44/2024 passed under Section 3(1) of COFEPOSA with a view to prevent Siraj from acting in any manner prejudicial to the augmentation of foreign exchange in future. The grounds in the detention order passed were, relying on the statement of Abdul Hameed, an aid of Siraj, recorded on 19/6/2023, analysing the WhatsApp chat on the mobile phone of Abdul Hameed; relying on the statement of Shafina;

• and the statement of Siraj V.E. The detaining authority concluded that Siraj V.E. is indulged in illegal purchase and sale of foreign currencies in violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). The argument now raised before us is mainly