# Bombay HC rejects Adani plea on duty-free shop immunity 2026-09-23T07:22:43+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Bombay High Court has ruled that goods sold at duty-free shops are subject to domestic laws, rejecting an Adani Group plea that its nicotine pouch sales at Mumbai airport fell outside India's territorial jurisdiction. The court said in its September 22 order that the domestic regulatory regime applies in full force to goods in duty-free shops within Indian territory. The Adani Group had argued in April that nicotine pouches are a recent innovation and not a drug, and that shops in international departure areas lie beyond India's laws. Indian authorities countered that stocking the pouches was a substantive violation of drug laws and a serious public health risk. The court did not rule on whether nicotine pouches are drugs, instead directing Adani to make representations before drug regulators, who will decide on the merits. The case is widely seen as setting a precedent on duty-free sales. The Adani Group manages eight Indian airports and has an $11 billion expansion plan for duty-free shops. Adani did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All three sources reported the ruling identically, led with the same fact that the court rejected Adani's territorial immunity argument, and included the government's health risk framing and Adani's innovation defence. The uniform wire-style coverage offers no stance difference to analyse. The implication is clear: the court separated the jurisdictional question from the drug classification question, leaving Adani to pursue regulatory relief. The next step is the drug regulator's decision on whether nicotine pouches qualify as a drug under Indian law. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Straight Reuters wire copy, no framing slant, led with court ruling and included both sides equally. - thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) Published Reuters wire verbatim, no editorial slant, all facts attributed to court and parties. - thehindu.com (neutral report) Published Reuters wire with minor rewording, no slant, led with court rejection and included both arguments. Tags: Bombay High Court, duty-free, Gautam Adani, Mumbai, nicotine Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/adani-duty-free-nicotine-pouches-lose-court-battle/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/adani-duty-free-nicotine-pouches-lose-court-battle/#story-in-brief