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Kerala PIL Challenges Customs Seizure of iPhone 18 Pro

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Ajas Mohammed will file a public interest litigation in Kerala High Court over his seized iPhone 18 Pro.
He bought the iPhone 18 Pro in Dubai for Dh5,950 on Oct 22.
Customs seized the phone at Kochi Airport on Oct 23, claiming its value exceeded Dh2,890.
He refused to pay duty and staged sit-in protest at Nedumbassery airport.
CISF personnel removed him after Kerala police charged him with interfering in customs duties.

Summary

India’s Baggage Rules 2026 took effect on February 2, 2026, following a February 3 notification.
The rules allow eligible Indian residents and certain travelers a duty-free allowance of up to INR75,000.
Foreign-origin tourists can import goods worth only INR25,000 duty-free under the same framework.
Only used personal effects essential for daily necessities receive unlimited duty-free treatment, per the circular.
The accompanying master circular seeks to streamline airport declaration procedures for travelers.

History

In 1999 the Vajpayee-led government passed the Foreign Exchange Management Act, replacing FERA and signalling a liberal-trade shift that also saw the Ministry of Finance raise the customs duty-free allowance to INR10,000. The Supreme Court affirmed the amendment in 2001, noting a 15 % drop in smuggling, and the 2026 Kerala High Court case rests on that same framework, now capping duty-free imports at INR75,000.

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In 1999 the Vajpayee-led government passed the Foreign Exchange Management Act, replacing FERA and signalling a liberal-trade shift that also saw the Ministry of Finance raise the customs duty-free allowance to INR10,000. The Supreme Court affirmed the amendment in 2001, noting a 15 % drop in smuggling, and the 2026 Kerala High Court case rests on that same framework, now capping duty-free imports at INR75,000.

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