Aakar Patel case: Delhi court upholds trial court verdict, directs CBI to withdraw LOC

A Delhi court on Saturday upheld the trial court order which asked the CBI to withdraw its lookout circular against author and former Amnesty International India chief Aakar Patel, Live Law reported.

However, special CBI judge Santosh Snehi Mann has put aside the direction which sought a written apology to Patel from the CBI director – the court had earlier stayed the verdict ordering the same, by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. Patel was last week told not to leave the country without permission.

On April 6, Patel was stopped from boarding his flight to the US at the Bengaluru international airport. He was invited by three universities in the US to deliver lectures on various subjects, including his book Price of the Modi Years.

The circular against Patel was issued in an alleged case of violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act. The Rouse Avenue District Court in Delhi had ordered the CBI to withdraw its circular after Patel had moved the court. The CBI had filed a plea against the verdict.