Dubai NRI alleges mistreatment at Jaipur airport over Rs 3.5 million Rolex
Vasu Shroff
, known in the
Gulf region
as the 'Textile King,' has alleged mistreatment by customs officials at
Jaipur Airport
during his two-day visit to India earlier this month. According to a report by Khaleej Times, the 85-year-old entrepreneur said he was 'humiliated and harassed' upon arrival on April 12.
Shroff, who arrived in a wheelchair and was accompanied by an aide, said his issues began when an immigration officer stopped him near the baggage area and demanded to see his passport. The officer then pointed to Shroff's
Rolex
watch and told him it could not be carried without declaration.
'There was no proper declaration point at the airport,' Shroff told Khaleej Times. He described the designated area as a 'small 5x3 ft desk,' lacking any indication of a red or green customs channel.
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Despite being recognized with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his contributions to business and community service, Shroff was reportedly held for over two hours at the airport. He had planned to travel 200 kilometers to attend a religious event and meet Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
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Shroff's legal counsel, Dharmendre Singh, who practices at the Delhi Supreme Court and Jaipur High Court, criticized the airport's customs infrastructure and handling of the situation. 'There were no clear red or green channels at Jaipur Airport,' Singh said. 'The way Shroff was treated was not only unfair but deeply disrespectful.'
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Shroff's Rolex watch, reportedly worth Rs3.5 million, was taken by officials who said it would be returned only upon payment of a duty. Singh claimed officials later demanded Rs10,000 for its release, despite Indian customs regulations suggesting a duty of approximately 38 per cent on undeclared luxury items. Singh called the demand 'legally baseless' and said it raised questions about due process.
On his return to
Dubai
on April 14, Shroff's assistant attempted to collect the watch but was again asked to pay the disputed amount of Rs10,000 that had no legal basis. The watch was eventually returned on April 19 after Singh travelled to the UAE to hand it over personally.
Reflecting on the incident, Shroff said, 'I felt humiliated. I sat there for over five hours. All I wanted was to meet a few people and visit a temple.' He has called for improved customs procedures and better traveller support at Indian airports, especially in Tier-2 cities like Jaipur.
'I have lived and worked in Dubai for decades, building a business and helping the community. But when I came to my own country, I was treated like I did something wrong,' he said.
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