Irfan Ansari And ANR. v. State Of West Bengal And ANR

29-10-2025 Item No.5 Subrata Bhattacharyya IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side AR(C) CAN No.2 of 2025 in WPA No.16180 of 2024 Irfan Ansari & Anr.

-vsThe State of West Bengal & Anr.

Mr. Ayan Bhattacharjee, sr. adv.

Mr. Anand Keshari, adv.

Mr. Satadru Lahiri, adv.

Ms. Kanchan Jaju, adv.

Ms. Sreha Das, adv. ...for the applicant Mr. Jayanta Samanta, JGA Ms. Indumouli Banerjee, adv. ...for the State 1.

CAN No.2 of 2025 has been filed by the first petitioner in the writ, Irfan Ansari, praying for a direction upon the respondents to release his passport for a temporary period from November 1, 2025 till November 15, 2025 to enable him to attend the event at World Travel Market, Excel, London from November 4 to November 6, 2025.

2.

The applicant has annexed the document of the Jharkhand Government dated October 21, 2025 disclosing the approval in his favour from the competent level for his foreign trip at the Government expense.

3.

It has been submitted on behalf of the applicant that though an FIR was registered against the petitioner, but the same stood quashed by the Hon'ble Jharkhand High Court at Ranchi on March 3, 2023 in WP (CR) No.483 of 2022.

4.

The SLP being No.7787 of 2023 filed by the State

of West Bengal against the aforesaid order is pending consideration before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

5.

It has further been submitted that the petitioner does not have any reason to abscond and that he would return to this country immediately after the event is over. The period for which the petitioner has been permitted to leave the country is also recorded in the letter of the Jharkhand Government.

6.

Learned counsel for the State vociferously opposes the prayer of the petitioner and submits that the passport of the petitioner has been deposited in terms of the order of the Hon'ble Division Bench dated September 25, 2024 in MAT No.1402 of 2024 with CAN No.1 of 2024 (The State of West Bengal -vs- Irfan Ansari & Anr.). 7.

The State apprehends that the petitioner may abscond once the passport is returned to him. 8.

Upon hearing the parties and on perusal of the documents placed, this Court is not satisfied with the petitioner's appeal for his travel abroad on Government expense. It does not appear that there is any emergent reason for the petitioner for immediate foreign trip.

9.

The apprehension of absconsion highlighted by the State cannot be brushed aside lightly. The passport of the petitioner was directed to be kept in custody on the direction of the Hon'ble Division Bench and this Bench will not pass any order modifying the said direction.

10.

The writ petition is pending consideration and is at the stage of final hearing. Necessary order will be passed at the time of disposal of the same.

11.

Hence, the prayer of the petitioner for releasing his passport on temporary basis cannot be allowed at this stage.

12.

CAN No.2 of 2025 stands dismissed.

13.

All parties are to act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

14.

Certified copy of this order, if applied for, shall be made available to the parties.

[Amrita Sinha, J]