New Delhi, Oct 18: The Supreme Court has emphasised the urgent need for airport authorities to sensitise their officers on prevailing laws before detaining or arresting international travellers. The observation came while quashing the arrest and criminal proceedings against NRI Rocky Abraham, an Indian citizen residing in Italy for over 20 years.
Abraham was detained at Delhi airport in January 2025 for allegedly carrying a deer horn, allegedly violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. He was arrested after officials found the horn in his baggage and registered an FIR under Sections 39, 49, and 51 of the Act. He remained in custody for nearly two weeks, securing bail under strict conditions, including a travel ban.
The court noted that DNA analysis confirmed the horn was from a reindeer, which does not violate any Indian forest or wildlife laws.
The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said, “Jurisdictional agencies handling international airports must sensitise officers in prevailing laws before taking drastic steps like detention and arrest. Such measures should not be taken in haste and must follow proper legal advice with a pragmatic approach.”
The Supreme Court added that wrongful detentions damage the country’s reputation internationally and breach human rights guarantees.
Consequently, the court declared Abraham’s arrest, FIR, and all related proceedings unlawful and quashed them. The writ petition before the High Court and any pending trial court proceedings were also closed. The petitioner was granted liberty to seek damages through an appropriate legal forum.
This ruling underscores the importance of legal training for airport personnel to prevent unnecessary harassment of travellers.