Delhi High Court Allows Navneet Kalra To Travel Abroad For Attending Business Events

The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed businessman Navneet Kalra, accused in connection with alleged Oxygen Concentrators Hoarding case, to travel abroad on two occasions for the purpose of attending events related to his business in the optics and eye wear industry.

Justice Yogesh Khanna directed Kalra to furnish a security of Rs. 50 lakhs to the satisfaction of the Registrar General of the Court.

Kalra has been allowed to travel to SAFILO in Dubai from 18th to 20th February and thereafter to MIDO, Milan from April 30th to May 2nd, 2022.

The Court was dealing with a petition filed by Kalra seeking quashing of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him, if any. The plea also sought directions on the Respondent authorities not to take any action on the LOC issued against him. Along with the said petition, the application seeking permission to travel abroad was also filed.

It is submitted by Advocate Gurinder Pal Singh appearing for Kalra that Kalra had been into the business of optics and eye wear industry for the last about 30 years under the name Dayal Opticals.

He argued that for the last about 30 years, Kalra had been, without fail, attending and participating in various international events connected with the industry and with that intent he proposed to undertake the said two trips.

It was further submitted that he had joined the investigation as and when directed by the investigating officer till 8th of June, 2021 and thereafter he was not called. It was also stated that he had a good case for seeking the relief in the main petition but nevertheless during the pendency, he may be given the permission to travel abroad on conditions as imposed by the court.

Interim relief to Kalra was however opposed by Advocate Asheesh Jain appearing for Enforcement Directorate.

Noting that since the investigation was still pending in the matter, the Court said that it would be appropriate to accord the permission to Kalra subject to the following conditions:

- The petitioner shall also file an undertaking/affidavit with Respondent 3 and also with Registrar General of this Court that he shall not dispose of any of his properties seized by the Respondent 3 till the pendency of the petition.

- The copies of the documents which the petitioner will file with the Registrar General, shall also be furnished to all the respondents.

- The petitioner will also furnish to the respondents a copy of the air tickets he has purchased for his travel, along with the complete itinerary of his stay in Moscow, Russia.

- The petitioner will also provide a phone number which would be used by him during his stay abroad, which number will be kept operational at all times.

- The petitioner will return to the country within four weeks of his departure.

"During this particular period, the respondent is directed not to take any action on the LoC issued by Respondent 3," the Court added.

While disposing of the said application, the Court directed that the counter-affidavit be filed in the petition, if any, within four weeks. Further four weeks time has been given for filing the rejoinder.

The matter will now be listed on August 17.

The Delhi Police had registered a case under Sec. 420,188,120B,34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodity Act 1955 for recovery of over 500 oxygen Concentrators from some restaurants in the national capital. The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch.