Delhi High Court orders release of old NRI couple detained at Delhi airport in connection with a 5-year-old FIR

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Central government to release an old NRI couple detained at the Delhi International Airport on Monday morning after a lookout circular was issued against them in connection with a five-year-old FIR (Jasjit Singh and Anr. v UOI and Anr.)

The matter was listed before Justice Rekha Palli, who directed the Central government to release the old couple while issuing notice in the matter. The Court also directed the petitioners to not leave the country without prior permission of the Court.

The case will be heard again on September 23.

Advocates Chetan Lokur and Nitish Chaudhry appeared on behalf of petitioners.

Lokur submitted that the couple was arbitrarily detained this morning at the Delhi Airport pursuant to the lookout circular issued in a five-year-old FIR, and were not even given food and water.

The detention was made on the complaint of one Rajesh Sabarwal regarding a contractual dispute.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against the petitioners in 2016 for offences under sections 406/420/120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

It was the case of the petitioners that they were neither the main accused in the case nor was it pressed by the complainant i.e. Rajesh Sabarwal that they were personally involved.

In 2019, the matter was sent to the Economic Offences Wing and the investigation was started afresh. Ever since then, the petitioners have cooperated with the investigation, it was submitted.

It was also contended that the investigating officer, woke up from his slumber after 5 years to start serving notices now.

It was further submitted that the petitioners have always cooperated with the police authorities in investigation and there was no question of evasion.

The petitioners' counsel, therefore, requested for their immediate release which was allowed by the Court.