NATARAJKUMAR Vs. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE CBI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petition is filed seeking a direction to the respondent to return the passport of the petitioner bearing No. B2775046.

(2.) THE petitioner who is ranked as A3 faces a case for offences punishable under section 120b read with section 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. The charge as against the petitioner is that he being a party to a criminal conspiracy hatched in the company of other Directors of M/s Pan Clothing and Consolidated Co. Ltd. , during the period from 1997-2000 forged the documents offered as collateral security and cheated the Punjab and Sind Bank to the tune of Rs. 4,297 lakhs. During the course of investigation the respondent police seized the passport of the petitioner also.

(3.) THE petitioner has contended that the entire dues to the Punjab and Sind Bank were completely liquidated in the aftermath of a compromise clinched between the Company of the petitioner and the Punjab and Sind Bank and thereupon the recovery proceedings initiated by the Punjab and Sind Bank before the Debts Recovery Tribunal, Chennai was withdrawn. It is his further contention that the petitioner who is now serving as the General Manager of MEPZ, Tambaram requires the passport seized by the respondent police for the purpose of touring foreign countries to attend quarterly business review meetings. Further, he has to hold several business meetings with the prospective clients for generation of his business. Though the earlier petitions filed by the petitioner stood dismissed, he prays that his passport may be returned for the aforesaid reasons taking into account the development in this case.