The Delhi High Court was approached seeking a directive for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence ( DRI ) to consider their application for the release of seized gold bars/cutting bars. The court directed disposal within 1 week. The DRI seized the gold over lack of invoices and bills with the consignment.
According to the petitioner’s counsel, the petitioner, engaged in trading, had sent gold bars/cutting bars for the fabrication of gold jewellery. However, upon receiving the articles back, they were seized by the DRI on the grounds that the consignment lacked proper invoices and bills.
The petitioner disputed the legality of the sale and purchase of the gold articles and has filed an application dated 26.02.2024 seeking the release of the gold. However, this application remains pending and has not yet been disposed of.
After issuing notice, which was accepted by the counsel for the respondents, the petition was taken up for final disposal. The respondents’ counsel stated that the gold was seized due to transactions lacking proper invoices and bills.
The petition solely sought a direction for the respondents to consider and dispose of the application dated 26.02.2024 seeking the release of the gold items.
Consequently, the petition has been disposed of by the bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, directing DRI to dispose of the application dated 26.02.2024 within two weeks from today, in accordance with the law. It was clarified that the court has neither commented on the merits or legality of the transactions nor issued any directive to decide the application in a particular manner.
The court also clarified that the DRI is free to consider the application in accordance with the law without being influenced by the court’s order. Thus, the petition has been disposed of accordingly.
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