Customs - Smuggling of Gold - prosecution of person charged with financing the smuggling - HC order quashing prosecution set aside. Prosecution to continue. - SC
A person, let's call him PK was charged with financing a smuggling operation in which 21 kgs of gold then valued at over a crore of rupees was seized by Delhi Air Customs in July 1996. The Additional Commissioner imposed a penalty of Rs. 15 lakhs on him. Interestingly, the Commissioner (Appeals) set aside the penalty. PK never appeared in any proceedings. Prosecution was launched against him and the trial court declared him a proclaimed offender. After the Commissioner(A) set aside the penalty, a petition was filed in Delhi High Court on behalf of PK and the Delhi High Court quashed the prosecution proceedings. The Government took the matter in appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court yesterday quashed the order of the High Court and directed the trial court case to be proceeded with.
The case was booked in 1996 - 21 years ago and now the trial is to start and our PK is nowhere to be seen.
We bring you the Supreme Court order today. Please see Breaking News.