Aakar Patel

Noting that “there cannot be any unfettered control or restriction on the right to travel” and that it was part of the fundamental rights, a Delhi court on Thursday asked the Director of the CBI to tender a written apology to Chair of Amnesty International India Board Aakar Patel after he was stopped from boarding a U.S.-bound flight from Bengaluru Airport on Wednesday citing a Look-Out Circular (LOC) issued against him.

The court also went on to direct the CBI to withdraw the LOC issued against Mr. Patel after he challenged the same before the Magistrate.

Mr. Patel was stopped from boarding a flight to the U.S. on Wednesday citing an LOC issued against him by the CBI in connection with a case that has been lodged by the agency against Amnesty International for alleged FCRA violations. He claimed before the court that the action was taken against him despite a Gujarat court order which allowed him to travel for the specific trip.

Mr. Patel, through his lawyer, claimed that he was not named as an accused in the said FIR and that he was never called by the CBI.

Mr. Patel, reacting to the court order, said, “The court did the right thing ... I was unnecessarily being harassed ... I hope the apology comes. I have done nothing wrong, it’s the government that has done wrong”.

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