2 min readNew DelhiMay 6, 2026 03:44 AM IST
Disposing of a batch of 33 petitions, some pending since 2022, moved by individuals challenging lookout circulars (LOCs) issued by various authorities against them, the Delhi High Court quashed 13 LOCs issued by financial institutions and 16 others issued by ministries and investigating agencies, permitting the petitioners to travel without court permission.
Reiterating earlier judicial precedents, the court in its April 17 order underlined that LOCs are not “a routine tool for law enforcement or debt recovery” and cannot be issued mechanically without providing reasons.
Justice Purushaindra Kaurav, in the order made public on May 5, disposed of four other petitions relegating the petitioners to approach the competent authority, the court before which the chargesheet/complaint is pending, seeking modification or cancellation of LOCs, without quashing the existing LOCs against them.
Among those relegated to the LOC-issuing authority are former promoter of Bhushan Steel Neeraj Singhal and his wife Ritu Singhal.
Justice Kaurav made it clear that for the 29 petitions where the court has quashed the LOCs, the individuals shall have to provide their itinerary to the concerned authority, that is the authority at whose behest the LOCs were issued — be it financial institutions, ministries or investigating agencies — prior to their departure abroad.
Among those who had challenged the LOCs were former directors of Moser Baer India Ltd Ratul Puri and his mother Nita Puri, directors of M/s Wave Megacity Centre Pvt. Ltd. Manpreet Singh Chadha and Charanjeet Singh, several position holders in real estate firm Assotech Limited.
Those who challenged LOCs issued at the request of financial institutions included Raghu Rama Krishna, former YSRCP MP and now Deputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
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