BHARAT RAICHAND SHAH Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petitioner challenges the order of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Esplanades, Bombay refusing the prayer of the petitioner to go abroad and for that purpose return of his passport which has been seized in connection with offenses for the contravention of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.

(2.) IN short the facts giving rise to this case are as follows.

(3.) FROM the correspondence entered into by Ministry of Commerce, it appears that the petitioner is to head that team for visit to aforesaid countries. In order to visit the countries, the petitioner required his passport which was seized and, therefore, he prayed to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to return of his passport and permission to visit the aforesaid countries, on 8th February 1996. Respondent No.2 opposed the said application. After hearing both the sides, the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate by his order dated 20-2-1996 rejected the application of the petitioner and refused permission to go abroad. That is how the order has been challenged in the present petition.