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The Delhi High Court on Monday granted relief to an NRI senior citizen couple who had been detained at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi pursuant to a look out notice issued against them.

The single judge bench of Justice Rekha Palli was hearing an urgent application filed by an NRI couple residing in the United Kingdom (UK) for last several years, assailing the Look-Out Circular issued by the Union Government in relation to an FIR registered against them in 2016 with Police Station Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, under Sections 406/420/120B of the IPC.

Adv. Chetan Lokur appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners have been fully cooperating with the investigation which was initiated in relation to the aforesaid FIR, and have, on all occasions, provided full and complete information to the Investigating Officer (IO).

In support of his contention, Adv. Lokur drew the Court’s attention to the correspondence addressed to the concerned IO. He contended that under these circumstances, there was absolutely no justification for issuance of any Look-Out Circular against the petitioners - who are senior citizens and have been detained at the Indira Gandhi International Airport upon their arrival in Delhi on Monday since 10:00 AM.

Having perused the case, the Court issued notice in the plea.

The Court directed that  “Till the next date, subject to the petitioner filing an affidavit before this Court not to leave the country without prior leave of this Court, it is directed that no coercive steps be taken against the petitioners on the basis of the subject Look-Out Circular. Consequently, the respondent and all other authorities at the Airport are directed to forthwith permit the petitioners to leave the Airport, if detained in pursuance of the impugned Look-Out Circular.”

The matter has been listed for next hearing on Oct 23.

Case Title: Jagjit Singh and Anr vs UOI