Exporter's seized seed and rice stocks: confiscation set aside
Police seized safflower seeds, sesame seeds and rice from an exporter's godown on 8 March 2013 and registered Crime No. II/22/2013 at Turbhe Police Station, followed by a final Order of Confiscation on 17 May 2013 and an interim order dated 22 August 2013 directing a bank guarantee of Rs.1,51,78,600/-. The exporters said the goods were meant for export, not local sale. The Bombay High Court on 20 August 2026 allowed the writ petition.
This page records what the cited court, tribunal and government records say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →The petition stands allowed and the confiscation case against the export stocks fails.
What happened
The High Court recorded the seizure of commodities such as safflower seeds, sesame seeds and rice from the godown on 8 March 2013, and Crime No. II/22/2013 registered on 9 March 2013 by Turbhe Police Station.
The High Court recorded that the petitioners are engaged in the export business of seeds and grains, and that admittedly the commodities were meant for export to other countries.
The High Court recorded that on 17 May 2013 the authority passed a final Order of Confiscation, and by interim Order dated 22 August 2013 directed a bank guarantee of Rs.1,51,78,600/- equivalent to the price of goods.
The High Court found merit in the exporters' submissions and allowed the petition in terms of prayer clause (b), setting aside the action against the export stocks.
What the record says
“Admittedly, the commodities in question are meant for export to the other countries.”
[name withheld] v State of Maharashtra, Writ Petition No. 2694 of 2013, judgment text — read the full text
A peaceful economic act
Storing and holding export-grade grain and seeds for foreign dispatch harmed no buyer or consumer; there was no PDS diversion, adulteration or cheating alleged.
What we could not confirm
Paragraph numbers and the full text of prayer clause (b) could not be confirmed from the excerpt; exact split of quantities was not verified.