Withdraw lookout notice against ex-Amnesty India chief Aakar Patel, Delhi court orders CBI
India Today
In a relief for him, a Delhi court has ordered the CBI to withdraw the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against former Amnesty India chief Aakar Patel.
Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has ordered the Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI) to withdraw the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Aakar Patel.
Earlier in the day, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar reserved the order after hearing arguments presented by both sides.
Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India Board, had filed a plea challenging a lookout notice issued against him in connection with a case of an alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act.
READ: CBI failed to inform about look-out circular, Aakar Patel's lawyer argues in Delhi court
The petitioner has further sought permission to travel to the US to take up "foreign assignments" and "lecture series" organised by various universities till May 30.
The lawyer appearing for the CBI argued in court that Aakar Patel is a highly influential individual and there was the likelihood of him fleeing from justice. "We are not demanding arrest. We are saying he should not cross the country," the agency's lawyer argued.
Aakar Patel's lawyer, on the other hand, argued in court that "citizens' rights are being railroaded by the agency". The petitioner's lawyer further argued that a court in Gujarat had granted Aakar Patel permission to travel abroad.
