Shri Ahmed A.R.Buhari v. The Assisstant Director

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 07.10.2025 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE J.NISHA BANU THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.SOUNTHAR Shri Ahmed A.R.Buhari ... Petitioner -vsThe Assistant Director, Directorate of Enforcement, Government of India, 3rd and 4th Floor, Murugesan Naicker Complex, Greams Road, Chennai-600 006.

... Respondent Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent herein to lift the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against the petitioner in ECIR No.CEZO-I/01/2018 dated 31.01.2018 and allow the petitioner to travel abroad with due intimation to the respondent / Trial Court, namely, XIII Additional Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chennai as per the directions / mandate of this Court in W.P.No.27686 and 28518 of 2024 dated 06.12.2024.

For Petitioner : Mr.B.Satish Sundar For Respondent : Mr.N.Ramesh Spl. Public Prosecutor ***** 1/4

O R D E R

J.NISHA BANU,J., S.SOUNTHAR ,J., This Writ Petition has been filed for a direction to the respondent herein to lift the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against the petitioner in ECIR No.CEZO-I/01/2018 dated 31.01.2018 and allow the petitioner to travel abroad with due intimation to the respondent / Trial Court, namely, XIII Additional Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chennai as per the directions / mandate of this Court in W.P.No.27686 and 28518 of 2024 dated 06.12.2024.

2. When the matter is taken up for hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that pursuant to the annulment of the FIR by the High Court of Delhi on 16.09.2025, that was registered in RC221/2018/E0003 dated 22.01.2018 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in respect of predicate offences under Sections 120B r/w Section 420 IPC and Section 13(2) r/w Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in Crl.M.C.No.2639 of 2021 and Crl.M.A.No.4776 of 2023, Crl.M.A.No.15461 of 2025, this Court has 2/4

quashed the proceedings in Special C.C.No.1 of 2022 before the XIII Additional Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chennai, by an order dated 07.10.2025 in Crl.O.P.No.12147 of 2025. The said proceedings were the outcome of the case registered by the Respondent Investigating Agency in ECIR/CEZO-1/01/2018 dated 31.01.2018.

3. Learned Special Public Prosecutor fairly conceded that in view of the quashing of the proceedings in Special C.C.No.1 of 2022, the very genesis / basis for issuing the Look Out Circular against the petitioner does not survive.

4. In view of the above submissions, this Writ Petition is disposed of, with a direction to the respondent herein to lift the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against the petitioner in ECIR No.CEZO-I/01/2018 dated 31.01.2018 forthwith. No costs.

(J.N.B.J.,) (S.S,J.,) 07.10.2025 Index: Yes / No 2/2 Internet: Yes / No ar 3/4

J.NISHA BANU, J.

S.SOUNTHAR , J.

ar To:

1. The XIII Additional Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chennai.

2. The Assistant Director, Directorate of Enforcement, Government of India, 3rd and 4th Floor, Murugesan Naicker Complex, Greams Road, Chennai-600 006.

3. The Special Public Prosecutor (ED Cases) High Court, Madras.

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