When a person coming from Dubai reached Delhi Airport on 7 March 2024, he had an expensive Rolex clock in his hand, which was worth about ₹ 13.5 lakhs. He was wearing this watch but the custom officials stopped him and seized the watch.
The Customs Department said that the person did not announce the expensive item in violation of the rules. It was also said that such an expensive watch would be considered as “personal goods” but a “business item”. Therefore, they were not given the benefit of free goods limit (₹ 50,000).
What happened after that?
On 30 January 2025, the Customs Department officially ordered that individuals can take a fine of ₹ 1,80,000 to release the clock out of India. But they had to pay this fine within 120 days. The person could not pay a fine within the stipulated time and then he filed a petition against this order in the Delhi High Court.
What did the court say?
On 17 September 2025, the Delhi High Court, while hearing, said that it was absolutely wrong to call a Rolex watch “commercial quantity”. The court admitted that this watch could be for Mahesh’s personal use and this argument of the custom department was weak. However, the court also said that since Mahesh did not announce the clock, the seizure of the clock is justified. At the same time, the court ordered them to now pay a fine of ₹ 1.8 lakh by 31 October 2025 and get their watch released.
Legal screws: What do rules say?
According to the Government of India’s Goods Rules, 2016, passengers can bring it to India only up to ₹ 50,000 without giving duty. Personal use items like clothes, glasses, clock etc. come, but if something is very expensive, such as Mahesh’s watch, then its announcement is necessary. If the passengers do not do this, then according to sections 77 and 125 of the Customs Act, that goods can be confiscated and a fine may be imposed.