New Delhi: A city court has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to suspend a look out circular (LOC) against Dinesh Arora, who is an accused-turned-approver in the excise policy-linked money laundering case, saying the right to travel abroad has been considered to be an important facet of right to life and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of India and there is no reason why this right should not be made available to an approver or a witness.
The court directed the ED to suspend the LOC against Arora for the period of his intended travel for hospitality business from from December 21 to 30, 2024 to Milan in Italy and London in the United Kingdom.
Arora was earlier granted bail in both cases, court noted
The court, while granting relief to Arora, noted that he was earlier granted bail in both the excise policy related cases – money laundering case, registered and probed by the ED and corruption case, registered and probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in alleged irregularities in formulation and implementation of the excise policy, and the bail was granted to him only after the court considered him not to be a flight risk.
Arora was earlier granted permission to visit abroad, court noted
The court also noted that Arora was earlier granted permission to visit abroad and he duly returned to the country and followed the conditions imposed by the court.
The court further said that even otherwise, his status was now of an approver or a witness in these cases after the tender of pardon to him in the two cases.
Right to travel abroad has been considered to be an important facet of right to life and liberty: Court
“The right to travel abroad has been considered to be an important facet of right to life and liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India and there is no reason why this right should not be made available to an approver or a witness,” the court said, news agency PTI reported.
Regarding the apprehension of the prosecution that he may not join the investigation or trial of this case, the court said that it can be taken care of by imposing necessary conditions during the period of his abroad journey.
