Delhi High Court examines DRI seizure of 33,624 vapes and foreign cigarettes
The Delhi zonal unit of revenue intelligence seized tens of thousands of vapes and foreign cigarettes and issued a show-cause notice for confiscation and penalty. The trader challenged the search power under the 2019 vape ban and customs law. The Delhi High Court let the notice proceedings continue with a hearing but stayed any final order from taking effect.
This page records what the cited court 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 →Adjudication pending; show-cause proceedings continue but the final order is stayed from taking effect.
What happened
The High Court recorded that the challenge was to a seizure memo issued by the revenue intelligence agency's Delhi zonal unit. The memo listed large quantities of vaping goods and foreign-origin cigarettes found at the petitioner's premises.
The agency said the goods were prohibited and proposed confiscation and monetary sanction through a December 2024 show-cause notice. The Court noted the items were viewed prima facie as prohibited goods under the 2019 Act.
The trader argued through counsel that only officers notified as authorised officers under the 2019 Act could enter and search, and that customs valuation and seizure powers did not apply. The Court framed that authorisation question for affidavit and hearing.
The High Court directed that the show-cause proceedings may continue with a reply and personal hearing and a reasoned decision. The Court ordered that any final Order-in-Original shall not be given effect to until the next listing in February 2026.
What the record says
“seizure memo dated 12th June, 2024 issued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Delhi Zonal Unit”
[name withheld] vs Union Of India & Ors, Delhi High Court order dated 06.11.2025 in W.P.(C) 15976/2025 — read the full text
No complaining victim
Storage and import of vapes for sale involves no complaining victim, violence, fraud or coercion; the only alleged wrong is possession of a prohibited nicotine product.
What we could not confirm
Premises street address in Delhi was not visible in the excerpt; Delhi nexus rests on the Delhi High Court as deciding court and the Delhi zonal unit as seizing agency. Foreign cigarettes were seized alongside vapes but no smuggling or counterfeit finding is recorded in the excerpt.