Thread by @LawBeatInd

🚨Delhi High Court to shortly hear plea by Rana Ayyub, accused of Financial frauds, challenging alleged foreign travel restrictions. @dir_ed has attached assets worth Rs 1.77 crore of Ayyub over allegations of violation of provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

Last week, Court allowed the Enforcement Directorate to file a status report on the pending investigation(s) against Rana Ayyub, who has been accused of financial frauds over allegations of violation of provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) #RanaAyyub

Hearing begins.
Court asks ASG if they have filed the status report.
Rana Ayyub's lawyer is currently making submissions but over VC, her voice in unclear.

Rana Ayyub's lawyer tells court that she had voluntarily appeared before authorities when she was summoned.

Rana Ayyub wilfully joined investigation, her lawyer tells Delhi High Court

I have said on the last date that the petitioner is a prominent journalist & speaks truth to her. She asks questions - that is her job. This may cause discomfort and it is the reason which is stopping me from going forward: Ayyub's lawyer tells Delhi HC

The restrictions which have been imposed on Rana Ayyub will only be imposed in exceptional circumstances. They are not existing against her. There is nothing pending against any court wrt Ayyub: Ayyub's lawyer tells Delhi HC

The only reason they have elaborated in the case is that there is an apprehension against Rana Ayyub, but this apprehension against her is imaginary. It is not legitimate: Ayyub's lawyer tells Delhi High Court

Court asks Rana Ayyub's lawyer: When is she coming back?

Ayyub's lawyer: Whenever her event ends, her return ticket is booked.... (audio unclear)

ASG tells court something which is unclear over VC.
Court is now asking the Additional Solicitor General how the @dir_ed would defend the lookout circular, considering Rana Ayyub has always replied to the authorities as and when she has been reached out to.

ASG opposes lifting of alleged travel restrictions against accused Rana Ayyub, Court on the other hands tells the ASG that he is not convinced, "if that is your best case, that a lookout circular was issued because of non-cooperation, why not arrest them?" Court adds

Court says it is only examining the lookout circular on the basis of which Rana Ayyub can be allowed to go abroad or not.

ASG opposes lifting of travel restrictions on Ayyub, says the apprehension is that if she leaves, she may not head back.
Court says that it will have to look at whether she has abided by the directions on authorities or not.

Rana Ayyub's lawyer says that her client has no reason not to come back to India. She has family residing here as well. She is being stopped from traveling on nonsensical grounds.

ASG reiterates: There is apprehension that Rana Ayyub will run away.

Court says "No". "I am not concerned about the assumption (vol. of Rana Ayyub not heading back from her foreign trip). Judge then tells her lawyer that when the court is here, no one should be worrying about anything.

Delhi High Court says that Ayyub has old parents here in India. "Mr. Raju (ASG), its not that the financial frauds run into thousands of crores, they are 10 12 crores", Justice CD Singh says.

Delhi High Court says that there is no need for further arguments and the lawyers on both sides must understand the things as they stand. "I am not on merits right now, what accused did and what she didn't do," bench adds.

ASG says that some conditions must be imposed on Rana Ayyub.
Court asks how much money should she be required to submit? ASG Raju says that Ayyub should head back to Bombay & that all her details about her foreign trip should lie with the Authorities.

BREAKING: Rana Ayyub allowed to travel abroad by Delhi High Court with requisite conditions such as disclosure of details of travel, contact and play of stay

*Correction: place of stay ( complete order stipulating directions to be uploaded shortly)

BREAKING: Delhi High Court sets aside Look Out Circular issued against Rana Ayyub on the date she was set to leave for abroad to attend an event in London. Court says “evident that LOC was issued in haste” & in “absence of any precondition” which necessitated such measure.