Court Reserves Order In Aakar Patel Case
New Delhi, April 7: A Delhi court reserved its order for 4 pm on Thursday after hearing arguments on an application of former Amnesty International India chief Aakar Patel who was stopped from flying abroad on the strength of a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him.
Patel is allegedly involved in a case of violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA). He alleged that while he was boarding a flight to the US, he was stopped by the immigration authorities at the Bangalore International Airport.
Counsel for Patel submitted that despite an order by a Gujarat court granting him permission to travel to the US, the action was taken against him. The counsel requested the court to grant him permission to visit the US for his lecture series in universities till May 30. Patel said he was not an accused in any FIR and the Investigation Officer had failed to inform him about the LOC.
Counsel for CBI submitted that after taking approval from the competent authority, a request was sent to the Home Ministry to issue a LOC against the applicant. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar reserved its order for pronouncing at 4 pm.
