Patel free to fly out of country: Delhi court

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday allowed former Amnesty India chairman Aakar Patel to fly abroad, dismissing the look out circular (LOC) issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation for “lack of understanding” of the relevant law.

“In this case, the manner in which the LOC has been issued by the CBI shows lack of understanding of the relevant law, and hence need for orientation of the concerned officers of the CBI, not only for sensitisation but also to bring objectivity in their actions, is not out of context,” special judge Santosh Snehi Mann said.

The court, however, set aside the order in which the CBI director was directed to give a written apology to Patel, acknowledging the lapse on the part of his subordinates.

“In the present case, the LOC was issued on wrong interpretation and understanding of law, and not out of any malice or ill will. Hence, it is not a fit case to call for fixing the accountability for issuance of LOC,” it said.

The look out notice was issued against Patel in a case of alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) registered against Amnesty International India in 2019. He was stopped by immigration authorities at the Bangalore International

Aakar Patel

LOC was issued on wrong interpretation and understanding of the law COURT ORDER,

Airport on April 6 and 7 while boarding a flight to the US.

On April 7, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate directed the CBI to withdraw the LOC. The CBI challenged this order.

On Saturday, setting aside the circular, the special judge noted that Patel joined investigation whenever called.

On the question of an apology, the court said harassment suffered during the two times he was stopped at Bengaluru airport were “a component for consideration”, but the actual fixing of compensation was not a matter for the magistrate’s court that ordered the apology.