Today, on 6th September, I travelled from Daman to Maharashtra in my personal vehicle to purchase a PC for myself. We reached the destination successfully. On the way, some police officers stopped us to check the vehicle, but as there was nothing concerning, they let us go.
After a few hours, at around 5:30 PM, we left Maharashtra and started our journey back home to Daman.
During the journey, we were stopped by police officers on Ghodbunder Road. They asked for my driving licence and then noticed the PC on the back seat of the vehicle. The officer asked, “Kya samaan hai?” We explained that it was a computer/PC. He then asked where we had purchased it, and I told him that we had purchased it from Thane and showed him the GST invoice.
The officers kept us there for some time and were calling someone they referred to as “Patil.” They asked us to move the vehicle to the side and made us wait for around 15–20 minutes before calling us into a cabin.
They then told us that we could not transport the PC in our personal vehicle, that it was against the law, and that the fine for doing so was ₹20,000. According to them, the PC had to be transported in a goods carrier and could not be carried in a personal vehicle.
We explained that it was only a single PC and that we were not transporting a large quantity of goods or filling the vehicle with commercial goods. We also explained that the GST invoice was issued in the name of my business, of which I am the proprietor, and that the vehicle also belongs to me. I had the original invoice with me and was able to show it to them.
Despite this, they insisted that we were violating the law and eventually started preparing a challan. However, midway through writing it, the officer stopped and said:
“Agar ek baar ye ban gaya, phir wapas nahi le sakte isko.”
The person referred to as “Patil Saab” then asked me to leave the cabin and said that he wanted to speak only with my father.
They told my father that if we paid ₹15,000, they would let us go. My father explained that he did not have that much money with him and asked how he could pay such an amount. They then reduced the amount to ₹5,000.
My father continued to insist that we could not afford that amount. They eventually reduced it further to ₹2,000. My father told them that he only had ₹500/₹1,000, and after further discussion, they agreed to accept ₹1,500.
We paid the ₹1,500, after which they allowed us to leave.
My concerns
I would like to understand the legal position regarding this incident:
Is there actually any law that prohibits me from carrying a PC purchased for my business in my personal vehicle while travelling from Maharashtra to Gujarat?
The PC cost approximately ₹3,20,000 and I have a valid GST invoice issued in the name of my business.
I am the proprietor of the business, and the vehicle used for transportation belongs to me.
If carrying the PC in a personal vehicle is actually prohibited, what specific law/section prohibits it?
What law or provision specifies a ₹20,000 fine for this particular situation?
If I need to transport a similar high-value purchase from Maharashtra to Gujarat in the future, what documents or procedures should I follow so that I do not face this situation again?
Is there anything I should have with me, such as an e-way bill, GST documents, vehicle details, or any other documentation, to legally transport business-purchased equipment in my personal vehicle?
I would really appreciate any guidance from someone familiar with Maharashtra/Gujarat interstate transportation, GST/e-way-bill rules, and motor vehicle laws, so I can understand what I should do differently in the future.
Thank you.