The Delhi High Court has allowed Sameer Mahandru to travel to Dubai with his family from January 8 to 16, 2025, to visit his ailing father-in-law. The court temporarily suspended the Lookout Circular against him and ordered the release of his passport, despite opposition from the Enforcement Directorate regarding his travel justification.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday (Jan 6th) granted Sameer Mahandru permission to travel to Dubai with his wife and daughter to visit his father-in-law, who resides there and is suffering from a health condition. Mahandru sought to travel between January 8 and January 16, 2025, citing the critical health status of his father-in-law.
A bench comprising Justice Vikas Mahajan held,
“The trial court is directed to release the passport of the petitioner. The LOC against the petitioner is also suspended temporarily.”
This decision allows Mahandru to obtain his passport and temporarily lifts the Lookout Circular (LOC) against him for the duration of his travel.
Sameer Mahandru was previously granted regular bail on September 9, 2024, subject to certain conditions, including a restriction on international travel without prior court approval. Advocate Dhruv Gupta, representing Mahandru, argued that co-accused individuals in the same case, including Dinesh Arora and Gautam Malhotra, were granted similar permissions to travel abroad. He highlighted that in Malhotra’s case, even the LOC had been suspended to facilitate his travel.
However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), represented by Advocate Gurnani, opposed Mahandru’s application. The ED contended that Mahandru had not provided specific documents to substantiate the health condition of his father-in-law and argued that the reason for travel was based on an unverified claim. Furthermore, the ED emphasized the existence of an independent LOC against Mahandru, asserting that he was required for ongoing trial proceedings.
After considering the arguments, the court acknowledged the previous bail order and Mahandru’s compliance with its conditions.
The court directed the trial court to release Mahandru’s passport temporarily and ordered the suspension of the LOC against him for the duration of his travel. Additionally, the court instructed the Investigating Officer (IO) to inform the appropriate authorities about the permission granted for Mahandru’s travel.
As Mahandru prepares for his trip, the court’s directive ensures that he can attend to his family’s needs while continuing to comply with legal requirements.
Case Title: Sameer Mahandru v ED
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