Court bars Patel from leaving India sans nod
A Delhi court on Friday directed former Amnesty India chairman Aakar Patel to not leave the country without the permission of the court, till the time the Central Bureau of Investigation’s revision application against the quashing of Look Out Circular (LOC) against Patel in a money laundering case, is decided.
Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann also stayed Thursday’s trial court order directing the CBI’s Director to give a written apology to Patel acknowledging a lapse on the part of his subordinate. “It is deemed just and proper to stay operation of the impugned order dated April 7 vis-a-vis direction to the Director CBI to give written apology. Respondent Aakar Patel is directed not to leave the country without permission of this court, till the next date of hearing,” the court said in its order.
The LOC was issued against Patel in a case of alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA). He was stopped by immigration authorities at the Bangalore International Airport on Wednesday while he was boarding a flight to the US.
On Thursday, a trial court directed CBI to forthwith withdraw the LOC, saying that it should not be issued on the whims and fancies of the investigating agency as it has a bearing on the fundamental rights.
But on Thursday night, Patel was again stopped at immigration. On Friday, he moved a contempt petition before the judge at Rouse Avenue court complex, alleging that he was yet again stopped from flying to the US.
Challenging this order, CBI contended that the additional chief metropolitan magistrate erred in his reasoning to set aside the LOC. The judge then said: “Ensure that your client does not do any misadventure. He is not going to leave.”