Delhi Court Directs Right To Travel Abroad Is ‘Valuable Fundamental Right’

A Delhi court has recently stated that the right to travel abroad is a fundamental right of significant value, which can only be restricted in exceptional circumstances.

Special Judge Anil Antil observed while granting permission to a businessman, accused in an Rs.135 crore bank loan fraud case, to travel to the US for his son’s graduation ceremony.

The judge permitted Raman Sethi to travel from June 12 to June 30, with the condition that he must not tamper with evidence or attempt to influence any witnesses.

Further, the judge stated that having a pending case doesn’t automatically deprive an individual of their fundamental right to travel as desired, considering the importance of this right. The judge also acknowledged that Sethi had traveled to the UAE from May 6 to May 12, 2023, and returned successfully.

The judge also noted in an order passed on June 9 that the accused had traveled to UAE from May 6 to 12, 2023, and returned successfully. In his application, Sethi submitted that a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him by the CBI, even though “he was in fact the whistle-blower in the present case.”

In his application, Sethi claimed to be a whistleblower in the case, despite a Look Out Circular (LOC) being issued against him by the CBI.

The fraud case was filed by Union Bank of India against PCL Oil & Solvents Ltd, a company, and its directors/guarantors for loan default.

The CBI alleged that the accused had fraudulently diverted Rs 135.5 crore between 2012 and 2020 by falsifying the company’s books. The investigative agency opposed Sethi’s request to travel abroad, stating that the investigation was in its initial stages.