Go to passport office, Abu Azmi told

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court, on Monday, asked Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi to appeal before the passport authorities in connection with an application for a fresh passport being rejected. The passport authorities have said the rejection was on account of nine cases pending against Mr Azmi.

The SP leader had moved the court against the regional and assistant passport officers for refusing to issue him a passport. He alleged, in his petition, that he has been travelling to various countries around the world on a passport issued to him in 1997 and later on a diplomatic passport which was issued in 2002. While the first passport expired in 2007, the diplomatic passport expired in November last year soon after Mr Azmi���s term as a Member of Parliament ended.

In line with the regulations, Mr Azmi had applied for a fresh passport to the Regional Passport Authority though it was denied with the pending cases against him being cited as the reason. Mr Azmi was advised by the passport officer to avail of the restricted passport facilities under which he can travel abroad subject to approval from the courts where his cases are pending.