M.Raghul Vs The Bureau of Immigration — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

M.Raghul Vs The Bureau of Immigration — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Conditional interim permission to travel abroad: on the petitioner filing the prescribed travel-details affidavit, the Look Out Circular is to be suspended from 03.08.2026 to 05.10.2026, with a reporting condition before the fourth respondent on 05.10.2026; the principal prayer for outright withdrawal of the Look Out Circular was not granted; no costs; connected WPMP.Crl.No.612 of 2026 closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents can be restrained by way of mandamus from infringing the petitioner's right to travel abroad by withdrawing or suspending the Look Out Circular issued at the instance of the fourth respondent, and whether interim permission to travel abroad may be granted pending disposal of the writ petition.

Court's answer

Pending investigation of Cr.No.234 of 2024, in which the petitioner stands arrayed as A55, the Look Out Circular issued against the petitioner cannot be withdrawn, as there is a chance of the petitioner fleeing away from India.

Ratio / Principle

The interim direction sought by the petitioner (permission to travel abroad) was considered subject to his filing an affidavit before the fourth respondent police specifying the details of his proposed travel, including the place of visit, contact number, flight itinerary and date of return.

Key takeaways

On such compliance, the respondents were directed to suspend the Look Out Circular pending against the petitioner from 03.08.2026 to 05.10.2026.ratio¶39
The petitioner shall report before the fourth respondent on 05.10.2026.ratio¶41
The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for respondents 4 and 5 was directed to ensure that necessary instructions are issued to the police authorities concerned for communicating the petitioner's travel particulars to the Immigration Authorities.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Writ Petition (Mandamus) under Article 226 — Right to travel abroad — Look Out Circular (LOC) — Petitioner, arrayed as A55 in Cr.No.234 of 2024 on the file of the fourth respondent police (CCB, Central Crime Branch, Vepery), sought withdrawal/suspension of the LOC issued at the instance of the fourth respondent, plus interim permission to travel for business. Held (G.K. Ilanthiraiyan J., 21-07-2026): pending investigation, the LOC cannot be withdrawn since there is a chance of the petitioner fleeing India; however, the petition was disposed of by granting conditional interim relief — (i) affidavit before the fourth respondent specifying place of visit, contact number, flight itinerary and date of return; (ii) on compliance, respondents to suspend the LOC from 03.08.2026 to 05.10.2026; (iii) petitioner to report before the fourth respondent on 05.10.2026; Government Advocate (Crl.Side) to ensure instructions issue to police authorities to communicate travel particulars to the Immigration Authorities. No costs; connected WPMP.Crl.No.612 of 2026 closed.

WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 21-07-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026 and WPMP.Crl.No.612 of 2026

M.Raghul S/o.Mohan, No.14/268, Shanmuga Nagar, Samathuvapuram, Mettur, Salem Rural, Salem.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

The Bureau of Immigration Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Rep.by its Commissioner (Immigration), East Block viii, Level V Sector-1, R.K.Puram, New Delhi.

The Senior Immigration Officer, International Arrival, Bangalore International Airport, Bangalore.

The Senior Immigration Officer, International Departure, Bangalore International Airport, Banglore.

The State of Tamilnadu, Rep.by, The Inspector of Police, CCB Central Crime Branch II EDF III, Vepery, Chennai-636404.

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WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police, Vepery, Chennai-636404.

..Respondent(s)

WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

Prayer: Writ Petition (Criminal) filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus for bearing the respondents from infringing the petitioners right to travel abroad by withdrawing or suspending the petitioner’s Look Out Circular issued at the instance of 4th respondent against the petitioner within the specific time frame as fixed by this Honble court.

WPMP.Crl.No.612 of 2026

Prayer: Writ Miscellaneous Petition (Criminal) filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue an Interim Direction directing the 1st Respondent to permit the petitioner to travel for business purposes for a period of three months along pending disposal of the present writ petition and consequently pass such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit and proper in facts and circumstances of the case.

For Petitioner(s): Ms.W.W.Pamelin For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar, Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Crl.Side) for R4 and R5.

ORDER

This Writ Petition (Criminal) has been filed seeking for a direction to

forbear the respondents from infringing the petitioners right to travel abroad by

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WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

withdrawing or suspending the petitioner’s Look Out Circular issued at the instance of 4^th respondent against the petitioner within the specific time as fixed by this court.

This Writ Miscellaneous Petition (Criminal) has been filed seeking a

direction to issue an Interim Direction directing the 1st Respondent to permit the petitioner to travel for business purposes for a period of three months along pending disposal of the present writ petition.

The Petitioner is arrayed as an A55 in Cr.No.234 of 2024 on the file of the fourth respondent police herein. Therefore, pending investigation, the look out circular issued as against the petitioner cannot be withdrawn. Since there is a chance for the petitioner to flew away from India. However , the interim direction sought for by the petitioner can be considered on the following conditions:

i) The Petitioner shall file an affidavit before the fourth

respondent police specifying the details of his proposed travel including the place of visit, contact number, flight itinerary and date of return;

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WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

ii) On such compliance, the respondents are directed to

suspend the Look Out Circular pending against him from 03.08.2026 to 05.10.2026.

iii) The Petitioner shall report before the fourth

respondent on 05.10.2026 .

The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondents 4 and 5 shall ensure that necessary instructions are issued to the police authorities concerned for communicating the petitioner’s travel particulars to the Immigration Authorities.

With the above directions, this Writ Petition (Criminal) is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

21-07-2026

Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

Vv

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WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

To

The Bureau of Immigration Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Rep.by its Commissioner (Immigration), East Block viii, Level V Sector-1, R.K.Puram,New Delhi.

The Senior Immigration Officer, International Arrival, Bangalore International Airport, Bangalore.

The Senior Immigration Officer, International Departure, Banglore International Airport, Banglore.

The Inspector of Police, CCB Central Crime Branch II EDF III, Vepery, Chennai-636404.

The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police, Vepery, Chennai-636404.

The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

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WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN J.

Vv

WP Crl. No. 232 of 2026 and WPMP.Crl.No.612 of 2026

21-07-2026

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