Heeralal v. Vasanthan Ifs,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 23.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN CONT.P.(MD)Nos.1776 to 1778 of 2026 Heeralal ... Petitioner in Cont.P.(MD)No.

Anwar Ali ... Petitioner in Cont.P.(MD)No.

Sheela Begum @ Asma Begam ... Petitioner in Cont.P.(MD)No.

Vs.

Vasanthan.

The Regional Passport Officer, O/o.The Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Road, Race Course Road, ... Respondent in all petitions COMMON PRAYER:- Contempt Petitions filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971, against the contemnor/ Respondent herein for his deliberate and willful disobedience to comply the order dated 28.01.2026 passed by the learned Special Judge for MM (D and R) Act Cases, Madurai in Crl.M.P.No.7530, 7531 & 7532 of 2025 in Spl.S.C.No. 19 & 18 of 2025, respectively and punish him accordingly. 1/5

In all petitions:

For Petitioner : Mr.SMA Jinnah For Respondent : Mr.G.Govindaraj Deputy Solicitor of India COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) These contempt petitions are filed alleging disobedience of the orders passed by the learned Special Judge for MM (D and R) Act Cases, Madurai in Crl.M.P.Nos.7530, 7531 & 7532 of 2025 in Spl.S.C.No.19 & 18 of 2025, respectively.

2.The contention of the petitioners is that the petitioners herein have filed writ petitions in W.P.(MD)Nos.29457, 29180 and 12972 of 2023 seeking a direction to the passport authority to re-issue passports to the petitioners. While disposing the writ petitions, the petitioners gave an undertaking that they will file applications before the learned Judicial Magistrate as well as the Special Court giving undertaking to take proper arrangements so that the prosecution launched against them will not be stalled an account for their absence from India. Pursuant to the said order, the petitioners filed applications for renewal of passport before the 2/5

learned Judicial Magistrate concerned and the said petitions were allowed granting permission to renew the passports of the petitioners. However, despite suc0h an order being passed on 28.01.2026, the respondent herein has not complied with the said direction. Hence, the petitioners have filed the present contempt petitions. 3.The learned Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing on behalf of the respondent would submit that the petitioners are facing PMLA cases, which are pending before the Special Court for CBI Cases, 4.It is not in dispute that while obtaining relief in the writ petitions, the petitioners had undertaken to file appropriate applications both before the learned Judicial Magistrate and before the Special Court concerned. However, the present contempt petitions have been filed solely on the basis of the orders passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate, whereas the applications filed before the Special Court for CBI Cases are still pending consideration.

3/5

5.In such circumstances, when no orders have yet been passed by the Special Court on the applications filed by the petitioners, no direction can be issued in these contempt proceedings. The petitioners cannot seek enforcement of the earlier orders without fully complying with the conditions and undertakings recorded by this Court. 6.Accordingly, these contempt petitions are dismissed. [N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 23.06.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes ta To The Regional Passport Officer, O/o.The Regional Passport Office, Bharathi Ula Road, Race Course Road, 4/5

N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.

AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.

ta CONT.P.(MD)Nos.1776 to 1778 of 2026 23.06.2026 5/5