MD. ATAUR RAHMAN Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application for quashing of Swarupnagar PS Case No. 145 dtd. 7/3/2024 and for inquiry into illegal detention. Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioners is taken on record. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits as follows. The petitioner no.1 was a Bangladeshi National who had prayed for refugee status in the UK while studying there. He was granted a refugee status with a valid travel document. He travelled from UK to India. He was apprehended from a market near the border between India and Bangladesh admittedly on 6/3/2024 at about 18.00 hrs. However, the BSF people illegally kept him detained and shown the arrest memo to be of 7/3/2024 at 21.02 hrs. He was produced before the learned Magistrate only on 8/3/2024. While in custody of the BSF, illegal demands were made. As the petitioner is a Bangladeshi citizen, even if he had gone to Bangladesh from India, no travel document would be required. Therefore, there is no question of Sec. 3 of the Indian Passport Act applying. Reliance is placed on a decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in Akmal Ahmad -vs- State of Delhi reported in (1999) 3 SCC 337. No prima facie case is made out as would be evident from a plain reading of the First Information Report. No case is made out under Sec. 14 of the Foreigners Act either. At present, the petitioner is on bail. However, his travel document from the UK is expiring on 9/4/2024.

(2.) Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State relies on the report filed earlier and submits as follows. During investigation, it was revealed that the petitioner was a Bangladeshi National who had gone to London for studying in the year 2013. In December 2015, he applied for asylum in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and was granted refugee status in the year 2021 on condition that he surrendered his Bangladeshi Passport. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Government issued a travel document in his name to travel to all other countries except Bangladesh. The document would expire on 21/11/2026. On 10/11/2024, the petitioner came to India with a valid VISA and went to Bangladesh illegally to meet his mother and family members. On 6/3/2024, he returned to India from Bangladesh illegally and was apprehended by the BSF. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent nos. 4 to 7 denies the allegations made in the writ petition and submits as follows. There was no illegal detention as the arrest memo shows the arrest to be at 21.02 hrs of 7/3/2024 and the petitioner was produced before the Magistrate on 8/3/2024. However, if it is found that the petitioner had been illegally detained from 6/3/2024, appropriate inquiry would be initiated.

(3.) It appears that a case was started against the petitioner under Sec. 14 (A) (B) Foreigners Act and Sec. 12 of the Passport Act. It is an admitted fact that the petitioner came to India with a travel document issued by the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is still valid. Therefore, admittedly his initial entry into India was absolutely valid. He possibly still has a valid permit to stay in India. However, it is alleged that in the meantime, the petitioner had crossed the border and went to Bangladesh to meet his relatives and was apprehended while coming back. It is to be decided by the Court after going through the evidence and other materials on record whether any case under Sec. 14 (A) (B) of the Foreigners Act is at all made out. The submissions of the petitioner that being a Bangladeshi Citizen, the petitioner would not require any document to travel to Bangladesh whether it be from India or anywhere else cannot be sustained. Because, he had already obtained refugee status in England after surrendering his passport. He is travelling to other places from Great Britain with a travel document which debars him from travelling to Bangladesh. Therefore, technically Sec. 3 of the Passport Act would apply because if the petitioner is found entering from Bangladesh to India, after coming to India with valid documents. Then it is quite obvious that he had gone away from India to Bangladesh at some point.