Delhi HC Cancels Look Out Circulars Against Prannoy and Radhika Roy
Court upholds fundamental right to travel, citing lack of evidence and prolonged investigation delays
India, March 21: The Delhi High Court on Friday quashed the look-out circulars (LOCs) issued in 2021 against NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy, stating that indefinite restrictions on their ability to travel abroad violate their fundamental rights.
Justice Sachin Datta observed that the right to travel internationally is part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court noted that the continued operation of the LOCs constituted an unjustified curtailment of this right.
The judge highlighted that the investigation against the Roys had been pending for over five years, without any chargesheet being filed. There was no evidence of evasion, non-cooperation, or risk of flight. The court said that basing the LOCs solely on “economic interest” or “larger public interest” could not justify restricting their fundamental rights.
While quashing the LOCs, the court directed the Roys to provide an undertaking to cooperate fully with the investigation, appear before authorities when required, and furnish any relevant documents or material within their possession.
The petitions challenging the LOCs were filed in 2021, following FIRs registered in 2017 and 2019. The 2017 FIR, relating to alleged irregularities in an ICICI Bank loan linked to RRPR Holdings, was closed by the CBI in 2024. The 2019 FIR involved allegations of violation of FDI norms.
The High Court’s ruling restores the NDTV founders’ ability to travel abroad while ensuring their cooperation with ongoing investigations.
