REYNOLD REX Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr.Reynold Rex S/o. Rex Santhakumar filed Crl.O.P.No.17803 of 2019 and Ms.Martina Preethi D/o. Rex Santhakumar filed Crl.O.P.No.17806 of 2019 filed to quash the FIR in Crime Nos. 202 and 203 of 2018 on the file of the first Respondent. Both the FIRs had been registered based on the complaint given by the Superintendent, Regional Passport Office, Royala Towers, Chennai to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai. Based on the complaint of the Regional Passport Office, Ministry of External Affairs, the case in Cr.No.202 of 2018 was filed by the Central Crime Branch, Chennai City Police against Martina Preethi D/o. Rex Santhakumar for the offence under Sec. 12 (1A) (a) of Passport Act, 1967 and Cr.No.203 of 2018 was filed by the Central Crime Branch, Chennai City Police under Sec. 12 (1A) (a) of Passport Act against Mr.Reynold Rex S/o. Rex Santhakumar.

(2.) Both the Petitioners are brother and sister and had surrendered their Indian Passport to the Passport Authority at Chennai. Only then they discovered both are French nationals. Therefore, the Regional Passport Office through its Superintendent filed complaint with the Commissioner of Police, Chennai City. Based on which, the Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch had registered the FIR. As per the complaint, both Petitioners are born to Rex Santhakumar. Rex Santhakumar is an Indian by birth who had married Antoinette Vinola Adiceom who was a French National.

(3.) It is the contention of the learned Counsel for the Petitioners that the Nationality Service issued Certificate of French Nationality by the Consul-General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai (India), which is extracted hereunder: