Eduport founder Ajas Mohammed disputes a reported duty demand of up to ₹30,000; police register a case over alleged obstruction of customs officials
An Indian expatriate staged a sit-in protest at Kochi’s Nedumbassery airport after customs officials reportedly withheld his newly purchased iPhone 18 Pro from Dubai over a dispute concerning import duty.
Ajas Mohammed, founder of the online learning platform Eduport and a native of Kozhikode in Kerala, arrived at Kochi on October 23 on an Air Arabia flight from Abu Dhabi. He was carrying an older iPhone that he said he had used for six years, along with the newly purchased handset, according to media reports.
Mohammed said the new phone, which had 512GB of storage, was intended for personal use. He reportedly removed its packaging before travelling but had not inserted a SIM card.
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The dispute began when customs officials questioned him about carrying two phones and informed him that duty would have to be paid on the new device
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Mohammed said officials cited the applicable duty-free allowance and demanded a payment of between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000
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He refused, maintaining that the phone was for his own use
After the handset was withheld, Mohammed staged a sit-in, saying he would remain at the airport until it was returned. He told reporters that he continued working during the protest, which lasted about three hours.
According to reports, Central Industrial Security Force personnel subsequently removed him from the area. Nedumbassery police registered a case against him for allegedly obstructing customs officials from performing their duties. Mohammed has indicated that he intends to pursue legal action to recover the phone.
The incident has drawn attention to the customs rules governing electronic devices brought into India by international travellers, particularly the distinction between used personal belongings and newly purchased goods.
India’s Baggage Rules, 2026, which came into effect on February 2, provide an allowance of up to ₹75,000 for eligible travellers, subject to the applicable conditions. However, this does not automatically exempt every newly purchased item from duty. The treatment of a particular device depends on the relevant rules and circumstances of the journey.
The dispute has prompted questions among expatriates about how these provisions are applied to expensive smartphones purchased overseas.
