Rs. 2.58 Cr Gold Smuggling Case: Madras HC Grants Bail to Accused Arrested under Customs Act [Read Order]

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has granted bail to an accused who was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, in a case concerning the alleged smuggling of gold worth approximately Rs. 2.58 Crore. The bail was granted subject to several conditions.

The petitioner, Sheik Mohideen, who was arrested on 23.09.2025, was accused of smuggling 2299.920 grams of gold from Singapore to Madurai via Colombo, for offenses punishable under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962. The case was registered by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that he is innocent and has not committed any offences as alleged by the prosecution. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 23.09.2025 and is ready and willing to abide by any conditions imposed by the Court.

Per contra, the Special Public Prosecutor argued that the petitioner had smuggled the gold and if granted bail, he may abscond. He strongly opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner.

The single bench of Justice S. Srimathy, after considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and particularly the period of incarceration already suffered by the petitioner, was inclined to grant bail.

The Madras High Court granted bail subject to several conditions, including the execution of a bond for Rs. 10,000 with two sureties, surrendering his passport, reporting daily to the DRI for four weeks, and not leaving India without prior permission. Further, the petitioner shall not move out of india without prior permission from the respondent and he shall report before the respondent daily at 10.30 a.m., for a period of four weeks and thereafter, as and when required for interrogation.

It was also held that the petitioner shall not abscond either during investigation or trial. Further held that “On breach of any of the aforesaid conditions, the learned Magistrate/Trial Court is entitled to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law as if the conditions have been imposed and the petitioner released on bail by the learned Magistrate/Trial Court himself as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in P.K.Shaji vs. State of Kerala [(2005)AIR SCW 5560].”

Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates