Scope from EBay.com

[tiwariarrun]

Guys, it's a banned item in India. Customs have arrested guys who have bought it through declaring it as binoculars, gift items or anything other than rifle scope.

[SriramK]

Guys, it's a banned item in India. Customs have arrested guys who have bought it through declaring it as binoculars, gift items or anything other than rifle scope.

Restricted does not mean prohibited, and rifle scopes are certainly not banned.

I cannot, for the life of me, find a copy of The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992.
This site which shows up on Google Search is down: dgftcom.nic.in/exim/2000/ftdract.htm
All other documents I could find on page 1 and 2 of the search results are either other people referring to it, or some stupid lawyer site which deals with notes about this act. Maybe it's a secret they don't want me to have access to.

I would really appreciate it if someone could send me a link/attachment with a copy of this Act. I searched this forum and there seem to be other people who're referring to it, but no copy of it.

This article:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_3 ... ai_1451796
deals with a guy who's smuggling 100 scopes for commercial use (If it's for personal use, we have a serious problem here.). DNA seems more like a tabloid than an actual newspaper. I cannot find this news reported in any other reputable newspaper. In fact, the only mention of it seems to be in DNA, and probably this site now that I'm posting it here.

If there's someone who knows this act thoroughly, it would be great to know exactly what the deal is behind scopes. There are a lot of things that may be prohibited for commercial import but fine for personal use. Scopes are rather common, and I don't think buying one locally at exorbitant prices should be any more legal than importing one cheap.

Also - I didn't ask the seller to mark it as electronics. I wasn't aware of how it would be shipped/declared until it reached my doorstep.

One last note - I just thought I'd share my experience getting my hands on a cheap scope, and letting people know what they get if they do happen to buy one like this. I don't at any point encourage or advice people to break the law. A lot of items that are restricted for shipping to India don't appear on eBay's searches at all, as they're clear exceptions to what can be imported. I searched for this, found it and purchased it just like any random person would.

There's a post here discussing the legality of importing scopes, and it's been unanswered since March. I'll look through it once, but I guess no one really knows what the deal is.

[pratik_mahale]

SriramK you don’t need to give any explanation to tiwariarrun
Because in other forum he himself posted he need a scope which is according to him banned item in India
Just ignore this double standard people

[snIPer]

please check this.
http://www.lawyersclubindia.com/forum/I ... LXHKuRebgs
Telescopes
While the import of telescopes is allowed, a scope if presented along with a gun whether mounted or not is a restricted item and will most probably be confiscated. Therefore attempting to import a telescope along with your airgun via post/ courier is NOT RECOMMENDED and if you are carrying it back with you as baggage while returning from overseas MAKE SURE you pack it in a separate case and NOT along with the airgun. Most airport security/ airlines WILL NOT allow you to carry a rifle scope as cabin (hand) baggage so you will need to pack it with your check in baggage.

So go ahead and import scopes. no harm there.
/S

[tiwariarrun]

Hey Mahale,

I posted it just to know about the legalities involved.

Thanks,
AT

Making personal threats on the forum is a no no. So take a few days suspension to think it over. Mod

[pratik_mahale]

Guys, it's a banned item in India. Customs have arrested guys who have bought it through declaring it as binoculars, gift items or anything other than rifle scope.

Just that I don't want to keep it if its banned.

[tiwariarrun]

I didn't know that you're such a fan of mine!

[pratik_mahale]

But you first said it's a banned item in India & now you saying I don't want it if it's banned but I need it for sure don’t you personally feel all your statements are confusing
Now forget about the entire allegation I or you made for a healthy discussion ok
Many people have brought the scope in the personal baggage my friend also brought one for me last year without any problem.
Now I think your question is
Is it legal to fix the scope on the rifle in India?

[u_vaste]

Guys, it's a banned item in India. Customs have arrested guys who have bought it through declaring it as binoculars, gift items or anything other than rifle scope.

I cannot, for the life of me, find a copy of The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992.

HI,
check these sites after reading I had abandoned importing rifle scope
http://compendium.iift.ac.in/Search.asp ... tmDtbZVIA=
http://www.dgciskol.nic.in/itchs2007/pdfs/CHP_90.pdf

Though I am getting very good rifle scope (centerpoint) from forum member.

some times these restricted Items get slipped through costumes due to some reasons, I had even feedback read on some site (i offer) that prohibited Item like blank guns also reached city like Mumbai. these dealers some times send these Items as different description like electronics, Sports sample , gift Items etc. even I had tried Airsoft gun from them though packet reached me but box was empty (Item got stolen lost money there )

[SriramK]

HI,
check these sites after reading I had abandoned importing rifle scope
http://compendium.iift.ac.in/Search.asp ... tmDtbZVIA=
http://www.dgciskol.nic.in/itchs2007/pdfs/CHP_90.pdf

Though I am getting very good rifle scope (centerpoint) from forum member.

some times these restricted Items get slipped through costumes due to some reasons, I had even feedback read on some site (i offer) that prohibited Item like blank guns also reached city like Mumbai. these dealers some times send these Items as different description like electronics, Sports sample , gift Items etc. even I had tried Airsoft gun from them though packet reached me but box was empty (Item got stolen lost money there )

Thank you for these documents, they're partly what I was looking for. But it proves what I was saying - Scopes may be restricted, but they aren't prohibited. If it was prohibited - you cannot import it, no two ways about it. If it's restricted, there may be many ways in which it should not be imported - for example commercially, or in the case of scopes - it shouldn't be affixed to the rifle and so on. These documents don't state what the restrictions are.

This is the Indian Trade Classification (HS) Code for scopes: 90131010 if anyone wants it. If someone could provide an official government document detailing how this item's restricted, I'd really appreciate it. I thought Sniper did a good job giving us that link. The post has a couple of lawyers who've very clearly stated that you can import the scopes as long as you don't have them with the rifles you're importing too. It does seem more like a rule-of-thumb than a law, but I wouldn't doubt it if that's what the law states.

All of you who had doubts about importing from eBay/other websites need to thank Sniper for giving us an answer straight from a lawyer's mouth

[u_vaste]

. If it's restricted, there may be many ways in which it should not be imported - for example commercially, or in the case of scopes - it shouldn't be affixed to the rifle and so on. These documents don't state what the restrictions are.

All of you who had doubts about importing from eBay/other websites need to thank Sniper for giving us an answer straight from a lawyer's mouth

restricted means allowed for certain criteria that we do not now (may be for arm forces). it fixed or not fixed to rifle it is restricted.

I also has seen this link long time back while I was searching for importing rifle scope but the link does not say anything about rifle scope, only telescope is mentioned which he suggested not to keep with airgun. one suggesting import of .22 rifle in personal baggage is also no issue and over that these posts are two years old.

It would be better some "wise one" here would clear air over Importing rifle scope and legality of keeping them in current date with solid proof.(can mod help?)

Uv

[Peace Lover]

My (Chinese) Tasco rifle scope finally arrives. Its a 3~7x 20 zoomable scope for 22mm rails. Clarity is great and the crosshairs appear sharp.

I'm now thinking of ways to fit it to my IHP 35 that has neither rails nor grooves to fit rails.

IMG_1431.jpg

http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 75#p183275

[SriramK]

That's great news, Peace Lover

[u_vaste]

hello guys,

Indian seller is selling rifle scopes on ebay now check link below.

http://www.ebay.in/itm/TASCO-3-9X40-ZOO ... 1c2e0dde9c
http://www.ebay.in/itm/TASCO-6-24X50-ZO ... 20cde00979

though price are high but no need to import.

Uv

[Big Daddy]

Make sure it's spring gun rated if yo use a springer or you are paying the large sum for a few shots.

BD