The Delhi High Court on Monday quashed a look-out circular (LOC) issued against her by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) saying that it was “devoid of merits” and infringed upon her human right to travel abroad and to exercise her freedom of speech and expression.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh allowed her to travel abroad with the condition that she will intimate her travel dates and detailed itinerary to the ED.
On March 29, Ayyub was detained at the Mumbai Airport by the Bureau of Immigration, from where she was scheduled to travel to London to attend an event.
Observing that the LOC was issued in “haste”, the court said there was no cogent reason to presume she will not appear before the investigating agency.
It underlined that a LOC is a coercive measure to make a person surrender and consequentially interferes with the petitioner’s right to personal liberty and free movement.
It is to be issued in cases where the accused is deliberately evading summons/arrest or where such person fails to appear in court despite a non-bailable warrant, the court remarked.
Justice Singh said there is no contradiction by ED to the submission of the petitioner Ayyub as she has appeared on each and every date before the investigating agency when summoned. “Hence, there is no cogent reason for presuming that the petitioner would not appear before the investigation agency,” he added.
