<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — apex judicial body that interprets the Constitution and can direct executive agencies; relevant to GS1: Polity">Supreme Court</span> on 21 April 2026 asked the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Central Bureau of Investigation — India's premier investigative agency handling major crimes, corruption and economic offences (GS2: Polity)">CBI</span> to formulate a <span class="key-term" data-definition="Standard Operating Procedure — a documented set of step‑by‑step instructions to ensure uniform handling of a process; crucial for administrative accountability (GS2: Polity)">SOP</span> for issuing <span class="key-term" data-definition="Look‑Out Circular (LOC) — a non‑public notice issued by an investigating agency to prevent a person from leaving the country; its legal status is contested (GS2: Polity)">LOC</span>. The directive arose after the petitioner, <strong>Nimesh Navinchandra Shah</strong>, was barred from travelling despite a court‑granted bail permission.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>Justice <span class="key-term" data-definition="Justice Vikram Nath — sitting judge of the Supreme Court, known for probing procedural lapses in law enforcement (GS2: Polity)">Vikram Nath</span> and Justice <span class="key-term" data-definition="Justice Sandeep Mehta — Supreme Court judge who highlighted the right to free movement (GS2: Polity)">Sandeep Mehta</span> questioned why the LOC was not served to the accused.</li>
<li>The petitioner had obtained bail in the CBI case, yet two LOCs (one by CBI, one by a bank) were still operative.</li>
<li>Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal argued that the LOC was treated as a confidential document, depriving the accused of any pre‑ or post‑decision hearing.</li>
<li>Justice Mehta suggested that the passport could be deposited with the court as a condition, instead of a blanket travel ban.</li>
<li>The Court directed the CBI to place the LOC on record and to submit a detailed SOP.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The petitioner’s chargesheet was filed without arrest, and the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Enforcement Directorate (ED) — agency that investigates money‑laundering and foreign exchange violations under the PMLA (GS2: Polity)">ED</span> also pursued the case after the company’s accounts were declared a Non‑Performing Asset. The High Court had dismissed his plea to quash the LOC, prompting the Supreme Court intervention.</p>
<p>Justice Nath emphasized that an LOC, being a non‑confidential document, must disclose reasons for issuance, as per the CBI’s own memorandum. Justice Mehta highlighted that impounding a passport without a specific bail condition violates the accused’s right to free movement.</p>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>Understanding the procedural safeguards around <span class="key-term" data-definition="bail — a legal provision allowing an accused to remain free pending trial,
Loading page, please wait…