High Court of DelhiW.P.(C)/11582/2019

Paramjit Singh Sarna v. State Through Eow, Delhi Police And ORS.

2020-01-22Hon'Ble Mr. Justice Navin Chawla2 pages

$~7 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 11582/2019 PARAMJIT SINGH SARNA ..... Petitioner Through Mr.Tanmaya Mehta, Adv.

versus STATE THROUGH EOW, DELHI POLICE AND ORS.. Respondent Through Mr.Sanjay Dewan, Adv. with Ms.Shivani Pruthi, Adv. for R-1.

Mr.Anil Soni, Adv. with Mr.Devesh Dubey, Adv. for R-2 & 3.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA

O R D E R

% 22.01.2020 Inspite of opportunities granted, the respondents have not filed the counter affidavit.

This petition challenges the Look-Out Circular (LOC) issued against the petitioner. The LOC has been issued on the basis of an FIR No.66/2012 registered in Police Station, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Delhi making the petitioner one of the accused in the same. Admittedly, though more than seven years have passed, the investigation is still going on in the said FIR. It is further the case of the petitioner that the petitioner was called only three times for investigation in the said case and thereafter, has not been called for joining investigation. The petitioner further asserts that in the meantime, the petitioner has undertaken more than twenty five trips to abroad and it

is only when the petitioner was intending to travel to Pakistan in relation to a religious ceremony that the petitioner was stopped and informed about the LOC. It is further contended that the petitioner is more than 70 years of age.

Keeping in view the above peculiar facts, the LOC against the petitioner is quashed, subject to the condition that the petitioner before undertaking foreign travel, shall inform the Investigating Officer at least one week prior to the intended travel, of his travel itinerary, the place of stay and contact details. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner intends to travel on 24th January, 2020 to Saudi Arabia for a period of five days in relation to his business. For this travel, the petitioner shall inform the Investigating Officer by tomorrow about his intended travel including the place of stay and contact details.

Since the petitioner has returned back to India, the surety amount of Rs.5,00,000/- deposited by the surety of the petitioner, shall be released in favour of the said surety by this Court. The petition is allowed in the above terms.

Dasti under signatures of Court Master.

NAVIN CHAWLA, J JANUARY 22, 2020/aa