Delhi stops Aakaar Patel from leaving India; stays LOC withdrawal

New Delhi: Former chief of Amnesty International India, Aakar Patel, was ordered not to leave the country, with prior permission, by the Delhi High Court, staying the order that sought withdrawal of CBI's Lookout Circular (LOC) issued against him. The LOC was issued on a case regarding an alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA), IANS reported.

The HC order came after CBI filed a revision plea early on Friday, and Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann stayed the earlier court order.

CBI argued in the court that it was not given enough time to challenge the order. The agency vehemently opposed granting relief to Patel and refused to file a compliance report regarding the earlier order mandating the withdrawal of LOC. It said that it had already approached the court for a revision in the case.

The court took note of the CBI argument and said it was necessary to give the opportunity to file a formal reply, staying the previous court order in revision. The court posted a further hearing on the matter to April 12.

On Thursday, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar has ordered the CBI to withdraw LOC and sought the CBI director's written apology.

Patel was stopped at Bengaluru airport on Wednesday by the CBI, citing a LOC issued by the agency on the FCRA case. Patel was on his way to the United States.

Journalist and writer Patel had worked on topics related to the 2002 Gujarat riots and presented a report "Rights and Wrongs".