A Delhi court on Thursday granted relief to former Amnesty International India head Aakar Patel and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to withdraw the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him, reported Live Law.
Earlier in the day, the CBI on Thursday opposed the petition of Aakar Patel against the LOC issued against him in a case of an alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA).
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar of Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order after hearing submissions from the lawyers appearing for Patel and the CBI.
During the arguments, the CBI opposed the application saying that the chargesheet was filed without arrest and that the application was moved in anticipation that Patel will flee from justice, there was a likelihood of the accused fleeing from justice if he was allowed to leave the country.
Appearing for Aakar Patel, advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir submitted that citizens' rights cannot be railroaded by an agency like this. The time has come that we should send a suitable reply to law enforcement/ agencies and society. He clearly said that the CBI concern investigation officer has even failed to inform the applicant about the issuance of LOC against him. As a result, Patel was put to a direct prejudice and loss of about 3 lakhs 80 thousand which must be paid by the investigation officers to him from his salary.
Patel who was stopped at Bengaluru Airport on Wednesday moved the court to seek removal and withdrawal of LOC issued against him.
The petition stated that the applicant is in urgent need to travel as he has to deliver lectures on April 8 in the USA and therefore, it would be appropriate and in the interest of justice that whilst the present application is decided, this Court in the interim directs the respondents to suspend the LOC so that the applicant can travel to the USA for the pre-arranged program.
Patel on Wednesday was stopped at the Bengaluru airport and was prevented from boarding a flight to the United States.
Patel said that he was prevented from travelling to the US despite a Gujarat court order granting him permission "specifically" for the said trip.
The former chief of Amnesty International India took to his Twitter account and wrote: "Stopped from leaving India at Bangalore airport. Am on the exit control list. Got passport back through court order specifically for this trip to the US."
Patel also shared a copy of his application for the passport to the court and tagged Prime Minister's Office. The Gujarat court's ruling shared by Patel showed that the judge had ordered his passport to be returned and allowed him to travel to the US between March 1 and May 30.
"CBI officer called to say I am on the Look-Out Circular because of the case Modi government has filed against Amnesty International India," Patel tweeted.
(With ANI inputs)
