A court in Delhi has ruled that the right to travel abroad is an important fundamental right that can only be restricted in exceptional circumstances.

Special Judge Anil Antil made the remark while permitting a businessman accused of a Rs 135 crore bank loan fraud to travel to the United States to attend his son’s graduation ceremony.

The judge permitted Raman Sethi to travel to the United States from June 12 to June 30, but he prohibited him from tampering with evidence or attempting to influence witnesses in any way.
“Taking into account that the right to travel abroad is a valuable fundamental right that can only be restricted in exceptional circumstances, and that the mere fact that a case is pending against him before a court of law does not disqualify him from exercising his fundamental right to travel as he pleases… the applicant is granted,” the judge said.

In an order issued on June 9, the judge also noted that the accused had travelled to UAE from May 6 to May 12, 2023, and returned successfully.

In his application, Sethi claimed that the CBI issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him, despite the fact that “he was the whistleblower in the present case.” On the basis of a complaint from Union Bank of India, a fraud case was filed against PCL Oil & Solvents Ltd and its directors/guarantors for loan default.

The CBI alleged that between 2012 and 2020, the accused company and individuals syphoned off Rs 135.5 crore and misappropriated funds by falsifying the company’s documents.

The investigation agency opposed Sethi’s request to travel abroad, citing the preliminary nature of the investigation.
Source-the print
Link: https://theprint.in/india/right-to-travel-abroad-is-valuable-fundamental-right-delhi-court/1641682/