In a unique case, the Supreme Court has ordered an inquiry and arrest of a man who faces contempt proceedings but fled to the US despite his passport lying in court custody.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prashant Kumar Mishra asked additional solicitor general K M Nataraj to assist the court and apprise how the man was permitted to leave this country without a passport.
We are astonished how can the so-called contemnor/respondent leave for the USA or for that matter for any country without a passport, as his passport is in the custody of this court. Be that as it may, now today we have no option but to issue non-bailable warrant against the alleged contemnor, said the bench and issued non bailable warrant against him. The man is locked in a custody battle with his estranged wife over their child.
The top court directed the home ministry to take every possible step under the law to arrest the respondent and bring him to justice. The order came after senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the contemnor, informed he had left for the foreign country.
“In this regard, we request K M Nataraj, ASG to assist this court. Nataraj shall apprise this court as to how the respondent was permitted to leave this country without a passport and leave of this court.
With the assistance of the Home Ministry, Govt of India, he may also enquire and apprise this court as to who assisted the respondent in escaping from the country and who are the officials and other persons involved in this,” the bench said and posted the hearing on February 19.
The bench, on January 29, said that any business transaction, be it any deal related to his property in India, during the contempt proceedings or later, would be subject to the order of the top court.
