Vijayraj Surana v. The Regional Passport Officer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 02-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI Vijayraj Surana ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1.The Regional Passport Officer Office of the Regional Passport Officer Rayala Towers, No.2 and 3, IV Floor, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
2.Union Of India Represented by The Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Ministry of Corporate Affairs Govt. of India, Corporate Bhawan, Ground Floor No.29, Rajaji salai, Chennai 600001.
3.The Directorate of Enforcement, Represented by its Assistant Director 2nd and 3rd Floor, C.Block, Murugesa Naicker Complex, No.84 Greams Road, Thousand Lights, Chennai-600 006.
..Respondent(s) Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Writ of Mandamus directing the learned XIV Additional Special Court for CBI Cases, Chennai, to return the Petitioner's original expired passport bearing No. Z2398943 for the limited purpose of renewal and consequently direct the 1st Respondent / the Regional Passport Office, Chennai to process the Petitioner's Passport Application and to renew/re-issue of the said passport forthwith upon production of the expired passport for the period of 10 years.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.S.Dhakshnamoorthy For Respondent(s):
Mr.A.Kumaraguru for RR-1 to 3
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the learned XIV Additional Special Court for CBI Cases, Chennai, to return the Petitioner's original expired passport bearing No. Z2398943 for the limited purpose of renewal also to direct the 1st Respondent / the Regional Passport Office, Chennai to process the Petitioner's Passport Application and to renew/re-issue of the said passport forthwith upon production of the expired passport for the period of 10 years.
2. Mr.A.Kumaraguru, learned counsel takes notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 3.
3. It is the case of the petitioner that, in compliance with one of the conditions imposed by this Court in Crl.O.P.Nos,19549, 19551 & 19552 of 2024 in SPL CC.Nos.9, 10 & 11 of 2022, the petitioner had surrendered his passport which is presently under the custody of the learned XIV Additional Special Court for CBI, Cases, Chennai. The petitioner's passport was expired on 13.02.2023 and in order to renew the same, he had applied for renewal of passport through online portal. However, one of the mandatory requirements for
renewal is the production of the original passport. Since, the original passport is in the custody of the said court, the petitioner has come up with the present Writ Petition seeking the aforesaid relief.
4. Though very many grounds have been raised, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that, this Court may permit the petitioner to make appropriate application before the learned XIV Additional Special Court for CBI Cases, Chennai seeking forwarding of the old passport to the 1st respondent so as to enable the said authority to process the petitioner's application for renewal of passport and that liberty may be granted to the petitioner to file appropriate application before the court concerned where the criminal case is pending, if the petitioner wants to travel abroad.
5. Learned Counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 submitted that they have no objection to the said order being passed.
6. In view of the limited relief sought for by the petitioner, this Court without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, directs the petitioner to make appropriate application before the learned XIV Additional Special Court for CBI Cases, Chennai seeking forwarding of his old passport to the 1st respondent within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Upon receipt of any such application, the learned XIV Additional Special
Court for CBI Cases, Chennai shall release the passport of the petitioner to the 1st respondent so as to enable the said authority to renew and return the same to the CBI court. Further, liberty is granted to the petitioner to make appropriate application before the court concerned for return of passport, which has been surrendered, in the event the petitioner wishes to travel abroad and the same may be considered and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. 7.This Writ Petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid direction. There shall be no order as to costs.
02-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order NHS
To 1.The Regional Passport Officer Office of the Regional Passport Officer Rayala Towers, No.2 and 3 IV Floor, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
2.Union Of India Represented by The Serious Fraud Investigation Office Ministry of Coperate Affairs Govt. of India, Corporate Bhawan, Ground Floor No.29, Rajaji salai, Chennai 600001.
3.The Director Of Enforcement Represented by its Assistant Director 2nd and 3rd Floor, C.Block, Murugesa Naicker Complex No.84 Greams Road Thousand Lights, Chennai 600006.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
NHS 02-03-2026