DRI seizure of foreign currency from Amritsar-Dubai passenger leads to bail refusal
DRI officers intercepted a passenger at Amritsar airport travelling to Dubai and seized undeclared foreign currency worth about Rs 2.66 crore. The passenger was arrested under the Customs Act. The High Court dismissed the anticipatory-bail pleas of two connected men.
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 currency remains seized, the arrest stands, and the pre-arrest bail pleas stand dismissed.
What happened
The High Court recorded that officers intercepted a passenger at the departure side of the Amritsar international airport while travelling from Amritsar to Dubai on SpiceJet Flight SG55 on 03.05.2025, according to the order text on Indian Kanoon.
The order records recovery of 2,681 US dollar notes of 100 denomination, hidden in layers of clothes in checked-in baggage, with total tariff value of Rs 2,66,29,598, according to the order text.
The order records that as the currency was unaccounted and exceeded permissible RBI limits, it was seized and the person was arrested by the DRI, according to the order text.
The High Court recorded that it found no merit in the pre-arrest pleas and dismissed them, according to the order text.
What the record says
“As the currency was unaccounted and exceeded the permissible RBI limits, it was seized”
[name withheld] vs Intelligence Officer, DRI, Punjab and Haryana High Court order dated 17.11.2025, as reproduced on Indian Kanoon — read the full text
A peaceful economic act
Carrying money abroad without declaration harmed no one; there was no allegation of drugs, fraud, force or any complaining victim.
What we could not confirm
Ownership dispute between the intercepted passenger and the bail seekers, and any later trial progress, could not be confirmed from the excerpt.