Vikram Sharma & Ors Vs Union of India & Ors (Delhi High Court)
Summary: The Delhi High Court considered the legality of a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Petitioner No. 1 at the instance of the National Commission for Women (NCW). Respondent No. 10, the wife of Petitioner No. 1 and daughter-in-law of Petitioners 2 and 3, had filed a complaint before the Crime Against Women Cell, Nanakpura, alleging cruelty under Section 498-A of the IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act. She subsequently approached the NCW. On 31st March 2008, the NCW wrote to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) seeking an LOC against Petitioner No. 1, stating that the complainant apprehended that he might leave the country and frustrate the mediation process before the NCW. Acting on the request, the FRRO issued the LOC, pursuant to which Petitioner No. 1 was off-loaded from a flight to Dubai and detained at the IGI Airport on 8th April 2008. At that time, no FIR had been registered. An FIR was subsequently registered on 11th April 2008, and the Delhi Police made a formal request for an LOC on 15th April 2008. The LOC was later withdrawn on 22nd April 2008 after the Additional Sessions Judge granted anticipatory bail subject to the petitioners not leaving the country.
