Karandeep Singh vs Union Of India
- Court
- Delhi High Court
$~
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Judgment reserved on: 29.05.2026
Judgment pronounced on: 03.06.2026
Judgment uploaded on: 03.06.2026
+ W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025, CRL.M.A. 6538/2025, CRL.M.A.
18766/2025 & CRL.M.A. 32144/2025
KARANDEEP SINGH .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. N. Hariharan and Mr.
Pramod Kumar Dubey, Senior
Advocates with Mr. Harshit
Sethi, Mr. Gunjan Rishi, Ms.
Shreya Sahni, Ms. Mansi
Tripathi, Mr. Arya Yadav,
Advocates
versus
UNION OF INDIA .....Respondent
Through: Ms. Rukhmini Bobde, CGSC
with Mr. Aman Sheoran,
Senior Prosecutor, Mr. Jatin
Dhamija, Mr. Vinayak Aren,
Ms. Aishwarya Nigam,
Advocates and Ms. Isha
Tiwari, LC.
CORAM:
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA
JUDGMENT
DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J
CRL.M.A. 15232/2026 (interim suspension of LOC to travel
abroad i.e., from 09.06.2026 to 23.06.2026)
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 1 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
1. The present application has been filed by the
applicant/petitioner seeking suspension of the impugned Look Out
Circular (LOC) dated 18.12.2020 to enable him to travel to the
United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland during the period
from 09.06.2026 to 23.06.2026.
2. It is the case of the applicant that his visit to the aforesaid
countries is necessitated for attending the following professional
conferences and events: (i) NHS Confed Expo , scheduled on
10.06.2026 and 11.06.2026 at Manchester Central Convention
Complex, Manchester, United Kingdom; (ii) European Healthcare
Design , scheduled from 15.06.2026 to 17.06.2026 at the QEII Centre,
Westminster, London, United Kingdom; (iii) International
Conference on AI-Driven Data Science in Healthcare (ICIADSH-26) ,
scheduled on 16.06.2026 and 17.06.2026 at Amsterdam, Netherlands;
and (iv) International Conference on Healthcare Systems and
Services (ICHSS-26) , scheduled on 20.06.2026 and 21.06.2026 at
Geneva, Switzerland.
3. The learned senior counsel appearing for the applicant submits
that the applicant is engaged in running a hospital and that
participation in the aforesaid conferences is of considerable
professional and business significance. It is further submitted that the
applicant has previously been granted permission by this Court to
travel abroad on four occasions and, on each such occasion, he had
returned to India within the stipulated period while duly complying
with all conditions imposed by the Court. Reliance in this regard is
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 2 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
placed upon orders dated 20.05.2025, 04.07.2025, 31.10.2025 and
23.03.2026 passed by this Court. It is, therefore, prayed that the
applicant be permitted to travel to the United Kingdom, the
Netherlands and Switzerland from 09.06.2026 to 23.06.2026. It is
also submitted that the applicant is willing to abide by any condition
that may be imposed by this Court, including the conditions imposed
while granting similar permission vide order dated 23.03.2026.
4. The learned CGSC appearing for respondent no. 3/SFIO
submits that a reply along with a duly attested affidavit has been filed
opposing the present application. It is submitted that the present
application constitutes the fifth successive request seeking suspension
of the LOC within a period of about thirteen months and that repeated
permissions granted on similar grounds have, in effect, resulted in the
LOC remaining continuously suspended despite the investigation still
being underway. It is contended that the LOC dated 18.12.2020
continues to be valid and necessary in the facts of the case. It is
further submitted that the applicant has failed to comply with the
undertaking recorded in paragraph 13(l) of the order dated
23.03.2026, whereby he had undertaken to furnish certain documents
within two days. According to SFIO, the documents subsequently
furnished were incomplete and did not conform to the commitments
made by the applicant during his examination on 22.01.2026. The
learned CGSC further submits that the investigation is presently at a
crucial stage. The applicant has already been examined by SFIO and
summons dated 21.05.2026 have been issued requiring his
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 3 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
appearance on 01.06.2026. It is stated that the documents furnished
by the applicant are still under scrutiny and his continued availability
remains necessary for the effective completion of the investigation. It
is also contended that the proposed itinerary spans multiple cities
across three countries and is considerably wider in scope than the
travel permissions granted earlier, without any sufficient justification
for such extensive travel. It is further submitted that despite repeated
requests by the Investigating Officer, complete financial and banking
records have not been furnished by the applicant. It is argued that the
applicant cannot seek repeated permissions for foreign travel while
simultaneously failing to provide documents required for the
investigation. It is argued that disclosure of travel plans or an
undertaking to share itinerary details cannot substitute the applicant's
physical availability whenever required by the Investigating Officer
during the course of an active investigation. Lastly, it is submitted
that the investigation pertains to serious financial irregularities
affecting a large number of investors and, at this stage, the larger
public interest in ensuring a fair and unhindered investigation
outweighs the applicant’s request for further international travel. The
present application is, therefore, liable to be dismissed.
5. Without prejudice to the aforesaid submissions, the learned
CGSC further submits that in the event this Court is inclined to allow
the present application, the applicant be directed to furnish the
following documents/information to respondent no. 3/SFIO:
(i) a company-wise list of Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs),
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 4 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
along with their respective roles/responsibilities;
(ii) bank account statements pertaining from 26.03.2004 till
date;
(iii) details of Mr. Dinesh Virmani, stated to be the Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) of the Alchemist Group; and
(iv) details of the financial transactions undertaken with
companies forming part of the Alchemist Group.
6. In this regard, the senior counsel appearing for the applicant
submits that the petitioner herein has been granted permission to
travel occasions and he has been cooperating with the investigation.
7. This Court has heard submissions advanced on behalf of the
applicant and the respondent no. 3, and has perused the material on
record.
8. This Court notes that the applicant had earlier been granted
permission to travel abroad vide orders dated 20.05.2025,
04.07.2025, 31.10.2025 and 23.03.2026. It is not the case of the
respondent no. 3 that the applicant had misused the liberty so granted
on any of those occasions. Rather, it is an admitted position that he
had returned to India within the stipulated period each time.
However, the learned counsel for the respondent no. 3 stated that he
had complied with the conditions imposed by this Court which is
disputed by the counsel for the applicant.
9. The applicant has also placed on record details of his flight
bookings for travel from Delhi to London and from Zurich to Delhi.
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 5 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
He has further filed documents in support of the proposed visit,
including invitations and communications relating to the
conferences/events sought to be attended by him. The respondent has
verified the said documents and does not dispute the existence of the
events in question.
10. This Court also takes note of the observations made in the
earlier orders granting similar permission, wherein it was recorded
that the applicant's family is settled in Chandigarh and that he has
deep roots in society. These circumstances, coupled with his conduct
on previous occasions, considerably dilute any apprehension of the
applicant being a flight risk.
11. At the same time, this Court cannot overlook that in its order
dated 23.03.2026, while granting permission to travel abroad, it had
been recorded that the applicant had undertaken to furnish certain
documents to the investigating agency, which had not been supplied
till then, and had assured that the same would be furnished within
two days. It had also been undertaken that the applicant's counsel,
Mr. Harshit Sethi, would accept any summons or notice on behalf of
the applicant during the period of his stay abroad. However , it is the
case of respondent no. 3 that the applicant had failed to furnish all the
required documents, despite giving an undertaking before this Court
on the last occasion.
12. In these circumstances, it is directed that the applicant will
furnish the details and the documents to the I.O. concerned so as to
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 6 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
cooperate with investigation as one of the conditions of permission to
travel abroad.
13. Having regard to the overall facts and circumstances of the
case, including the applicant's past conduct in complying with the
travel permissions granted by this Court, this Court is inclined to
allow the present application. Accordingly, the applicant is permitted
to travel to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland
during the period from 09.06.2026 to 23.06.2026 for attending the
conferences/events referred to in paragraph 2 of this order.
14. It is made clear that the applicant shall return to India on or
before 23.06.2026. For facilitating the aforesaid travel, the LOC
issued against the applicant shall remain suspended during the said
period.
15. However, keeping in view the submissions advanced on behalf
of respondent no. 3/SFIO and the requirement of ensuring the
applicant’s continued cooperation with the ongoing investigation, the
permission granted herein shall remain subject to the following
conditions:
“ a . That if the presence of the petitioner is required with
Investigating Officer in connection with any further
investigation during the travel period, he shall return to India
and join the investigation within 48 hours of receiving the
information in this regard from the Investigating Officer
through WhatsApp or Email or any other mode of
communication;
b . That he shall inform the Court about his arrival back in
India within 24 hours of his return;
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 7 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
c . The petitioner shall not under any circumstances request for
extension of duration of stay in abroad;
d . That he shall furnish before the Ld. Registrar General of
this Court a fixed deposit receipt in the sum of Rs. 25 lacs as
a security for his timely return to the country and for joining
the ongoing investigation of the case within the given time or
on being urgently summoned during the above said period.
e . In addition to the above, he shall also furnish before the Ld.
Registrar General a personal bond of sum of Rs. 25 lacs with
a surety of the like amount for his timely return to the country
or on being urgently summoned for the purpose of
investigation during the above said period.
f . During the aforesaid period, he shall not enter any
transaction in respect of his relinquishment, etc of interests in
the movable or immovable properties like shares and
securities etc. except with the permission of this Court.
g . He shall not apply for the citizenship of any other country
nor shall renounce his Indian citizenship during the said
period without permission of the Court.
h . That prior to leaving the country, he shall finalize his travel
itinerary and shall file on records the complete details of the
flights, the places of his stay abroad and also his contact
number there and a copy of his details shall also be
simultaneously furnished to the respondent.
i . That he shall duly furnish before this Court an undertaking
on a stamp paper of appropriate value for the compliance of
the above conditions and also contain a clause that in case he
violates any of the above conditions intentionally, then the
amount of the above FDR as well as surety bond furnish
before this Court shall stand forfeited to the Government of
India and can be recovered as per law.
j . While being abroad, the petitioner shall not make any
attempt to influence anybody connected with the investigation
or tamper or destroy the evidence of the case.
k . Mr. Harshit Sethi, the learned counsel for the applicant will
accept any notice/summon, if issued by the respondent, on
behalf of the applicant while he is abroad.
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 8 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11
l . The applicant herein or anyone on his behalf will provide
the relevant documents, already sought by the investigating
agency from him, prior to travelling abroad.”
16. The concerned Investigating Officer is directed to
communicate the present order to the concerned authorities including
FRRO.
17. List before the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial) for completing
the formalities tomorrow, i.e. 04.06.2026.
18. The application stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025
19. List on 27.08.2026.
20. The judgment be uploaded on the website forthwith.
DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J
JUNE 03, 2026/vc
W.P.(CRL.) 709/2025 Page 9 of 9
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN
Signing Date:03.06.2026
17:19:11