High Court Clarifies DRI's Limited Authority: Customs Act Does Not Permit Freezing Bank Accounts in Illegal Import Cases.

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....Jurisdiction - power of DRI to issue directions - suspicion of illegal import - The power is available only to any “police officer” - Freezing a bank account is not the same as seizing an asset; it interdicts operation of a bank account and it deprives the account holder of banking facilities. Indisputably, there is no sanction in the Customs Act for such action - HC....