CBI may challenge court order that set aside lookout notice against ex-Amnesty chief Aakar Patel

The CBI is reportedly planning to challenge the court order that set aside the lookout circular against the former chair of Amnesty International India Board, Aakar Patel, in a case of an alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act.

A Delhi court on Thursday had directed the CBI to withdraw the LOC issued against Patel and directed the probe agency to file a compliance report.

Earlier during the arguments, the CBI opposed the application of Patel saying there was a likelihood of him fleeing from justice if he was allowed to leave the country. The CBI said that Patel was highly influential.


"We are not demanding for arrest. We are saying he should not cross the country," the agency said.

The court noted the CBI submission that the investigation was continuing since 2021, and said if Patel was a flight risk, he would have been arrested.

The court said he could have run away during the investigation also then.

Patel's counsel had opposed the CBI's contention, claiming that citizens' rights are being railroaded by the agency.

"It is time that we send a suitable reply to law enforcement agencies and society," he told the court.

Patel's application has further sought the court's permission to visit the US to take up his foreign assignment and lecture series organised by various universities till May 30.

It submitted that Patel was stopped by immigration authorities at the Bangalore International Airport on Wednesday while he was boarding a flight to the US.

The application claimed that the action was taken despite an order by a Gujarat court granting him permission to travel abroad.