A Delhi court on Friday directed Aakar Patel, activist and former executive director of Amnesty International India, not to leave the country without its permission.
It also stayed a direction by a magisterial court to the CBI director to tender a written apology to him for causing mental harassment to him for issuance of look out circular (LOC) on December 31, 2021, in a case related to violation of the FCRA for allegedly receiving Rs 36 crore without the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Special CBI judge Santosh Snehi Mann passed the order on a revision application by the investigating agency against the directions of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar on Thursday.
The court provided interim relief to the CBI and asked Patel to file his response in the matter.
Patel had moved the court after he was prevented from boarding a flight to the US from Bengaluru airport on Wednesday on the basis of the LOC. The court had then directed the CBI to withdraw the LOC.
After the order, Patel had reportedly booked tickets to the US, but was once again stopped at Bengaluru Airport on Thursday night by immigration authorities, on the ground that the CBI had not withdrawn the LOC.
Arguing on the revision application, CBI counsel Nikhil Goel contended the trial court's order was incorrect as it seemed to suggest since there was no arrest of Patel, there was no question of arrest in future.
"Just because somebody was not arrested and so no LOC can be issued is against the basic purpose of issuing LOC," he said.
The counsel also questioned "unwarranted observations" by the trial court.
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