Gujarat HC Directs Police to Compensate Jeweller for Gold Lost in Custody

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has said police must reimburse a jeweller for gold seized in a criminal case but subsequently lost or misplaced in their custody, preventing its return after his acquittal.

The case arose from a complaint by a customer who accused a Gandhidham jeweller of cheating her. She claimed to have entrusted him with 705 grams of gold and silver ornaments worth ₹21.8 lakh, which were to be returned on demand.

After the jeweller allegedly failed to return the ornaments, police registered an FIR at Gandhidham A Division police station and seized the jewellery as case property (muddamal).

The dispute was later settled, leading to the jeweller’s acquittal. In August 2025, a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Gandhidham ordered the police to return the seized jewellery. However, police failed to comply, citing its loss or misplacement.

The jeweller then approached the High Court seeking contempt proceedings against the responsible police officer. Hearing the matter, a bench of Justice N S Sanjay Gowda and Justice J L Odedra observed that the police were required to reimburse the cost of the seized gold.

“It is obvious that the police are required to reimburse the cost of the gold that they had seized from the complainant,” the bench observed.

The government lawyer sought more time to respond. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 28. DeshGujarat