<p>Former Amnesty International India head Aakar Patel was on Wednesday barred from boarding a flight to the United States at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). In a tweet, Aakar said he was put on the exit control list, although he got his passport through a court order specifically for the US trip.<br /><br />His inclusion in the list was related to a case filed against Amnesty India International by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Aakar has now filed a petition in Delhi to quash the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him by the CBI.<br /><br />The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) declined to elaborate but confirmed that the decision to stop him from flying was made by the Immigration officials.<br /><br />Aakar was to board a British Airway flight at about 6.30 am on Wednesday. “I had checked in my bags and got my boarding pass. At the Immigration, I was told that I couldn't go because my name was in the LOC,” he told DH.<br /><br />“It is malicious and the government knew that I was leaving. They had opposed giving my passport back to me. Why did they not tell me you are there on another list? I would have taken them to court on that. But they didn't do that. This is devious,” he said.<br /><br />A BJP MLA had filed a case under seciton 153A against Aakar in Surat in late 2020. “As part of my bail condition, I had surrendered my passport and it was with the court all this time. Last time I had an engagement with the CBI in 2020 when they sent summons and I went and met them. I have not heard from the CBI in the last 13 months.”<br /><br />Aakar had moved the court to get his passport back after being invited for lectures in the Michigan, Berkeley and New York universities. Despite the government's objection that he was a flight risk, the passport was returned to him. He was allowed to go but asked to be back by the end of May.<br /><br />Agencies citing sources said the CBI had filed a case against Amnesty International India and three of its associate organisations in November, 2019, based on a complaint by the Home Ministry for alleged violation of the provision of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and the Indian Penal Code.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Former Amnesty International India head Aakar Patel was on Wednesday barred from boarding a flight to the United States at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). In a tweet, Aakar said he was put on the exit control list, although he got his passport through a court order specifically for the US trip.<br /><br />His inclusion in the list was related to a case filed against Amnesty India International by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Aakar has now filed a petition in Delhi to quash the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him by the CBI.<br /><br />The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) declined to elaborate but confirmed that the decision to stop him from flying was made by the Immigration officials.<br /><br />Aakar was to board a British Airway flight at about 6.30 am on Wednesday. “I had checked in my bags and got my boarding pass. At the Immigration, I was told that I couldn't go because my name was in the LOC,” he told DH.<br /><br />“It is malicious and the government knew that I was leaving. They had opposed giving my passport back to me. Why did they not tell me you are there on another list? I would have taken them to court on that. But they didn't do that. This is devious,” he said.<br /><br />A BJP MLA had filed a case under seciton 153A against Aakar in Surat in late 2020. “As part of my bail condition, I had surrendered my passport and it was with the court all this time. Last time I had an engagement with the CBI in 2020 when they sent summons and I went and met them. I have not heard from the CBI in the last 13 months.”<br /><br />Aakar had moved the court to get his passport back after being invited for lectures in the Michigan, Berkeley and New York universities. Despite the government's objection that he was a flight risk, the passport was returned to him. He was allowed to go but asked to be back by the end of May.<br /><br />Agencies citing sources said the CBI had filed a case against Amnesty International India and three of its associate organisations in November, 2019, based on a complaint by the Home Ministry for alleged violation of the provision of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and the Indian Penal Code.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>