Sri Lankan Tamil woman wins legal battle to reclaim seized Thali chain from Chennai Customs
The Madras High Court ruled in her favor, declaring the seizure unlawful and ordering its return, in a verdict celebrated as a triumph of justice by her family
The family members of the Lankan woman with lawyers at Chennai airport on Friday night
CHENNAI: As they left the Chennai airport on Friday night with the gold reclaimed from the Customs Department, the resilience displayed by the family of a Sri Lankan Tamil woman underscored a broader message: the right to dignity, culture, and justice can prevail even in the face of bureaucratic overreach.
The young woman, Thanushika, who got married in December 2023, successfully reclaimed her gold thali chain after a gruelling 14-month court battle against Chennai Customs, which had confiscated the jewellery alleging that she was smuggling gold.
However, the Madras High Court ruled in her favour, declaring the seizure unlawful and ordering its return, in a verdict celebrated as a triumph of justice by her family.
The incident happened in December 2023, just days after her marriage, when Thanushika and relatives arrived at the Chennai International Airport from Sri Lanka. During a routine check, the Customs officials confiscated the Thali chain along with gold chains and bangles worn by Thanushika and two other women, labelling them "smuggled goods”.
The young woman vehemently protested, arguing that her Thali held deep cultural and emotional significance and could not be classified as contraband. However, the officials refused to relent.
Undeterred by this, the woman pursued legal action, filing a petition through lawyers at the Madras High Court. She contended that the seizure violated her rights, emphasising the Thali's sacred role in Tamil tradition.
The hearing went on for more than a year, after which the court delivered the verdict on February 14, in which it criticised Customs officials for failing to distinguish between personal jewellery and smuggled goods. "A woman's Thali chain is integral to her identity and cannot be treated as illicit gold," the court said. It also mandated departmental action against the officers involved.
The Customs department appealed the verdict, but the order was upheld. On Friday night, the woman's family, accompanied by lawyers, arrived at the Airport Customs office to reclaim the Thali. The only one missing was Thanushika, who is away in France. The officials returned the chain after completing formalities, including signed affidavits and conditions tied to the ongoing appeal.
"Justice has won," the family declared after retrieving the chain. Relatives expressed relief, highlighting the emotional toll of the prolonged fight. "This Thali isn't just gold - it's a part of our culture and her marriage," said a family member.
