Statutory presumption for notified gold arises only when seizure...

Statutory presumption for notified gold arises only when seizure rests on reasonable belief, supported by objective material, that the particular gold was smuggled. Purity, lack of documents at interception and private carriage do not establish foreign origin. Domestic acquisition may be established through contemporaneous invoices, supplier confirmation and banking records; confiscation for breach of an import exemption condition requires identification of that breached condition. Statements recorded under customs powers remain admissible, but retracted statements require scrutiny of voluntariness, reliability and independent corroboration. Where such statements and a panchanama are challenged, denial of cross-examination of their makers materially prejudices the affected party and violates natural justice. Confiscation and related penalties were set aside, and the departmental appeal was dismissed.