Supreme Court asks ED to withdraw LoC against Abhishek Banerjee and wife

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Enforcement Directorate to withdraw the look-out circular (LoC) issued against Trinamool Congress' parliamentarian Abhishek Banerjee and his wife in connection with a money laundering probe.

A bench headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul passed the orders on an application filed by the couple seeking permission to travel abroad.

The counsel for ED told the court that the couple will be allowed to travel abroad after the agency is informed about the travel plans a week in advance.


The court recorded in its order that issuance of LoC has consequences. Recording the undertaking of the ED counsel, SC ordered that LoC "shall stand withdrawn".

At the last hearing on Monday, the bench had observed that citizens have a right to travel abroad, especially for medical reasons. SC had questioned as to why such an LoC was issued against the couple. Banerjee's wife was stopped at the airport on June 5 from travelling abroad because of the circular.

During the hearing on Friday, the counsel for ED apprised the court that Abhishek Banerjee had been permitted to travel abroad on July 26. However, he maintained that LoC against him was not withdrawn.

The apex court bench then directed the agency to recall LoCs issued against Banerjee and his wife.