An LOC may be suspended for foreign travel subject to strict disclosure and availability conditions.

The petitioner is A3 in C.C.No.3449 of 2018 before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, charged under Sections 420, 465 and 471 read with Section 120-B IPC.

Charges had not been framed, as the CBI had obtained permission for further investigation under Section 173(8) CrPC.

The petitioner had previously obtained orders keeping the Look Out Circular (LOC) in abeyance to facilitate travel to the United States, but did not travel during the periods granted.

He later sought permission to travel abroad, citing family members and functions overseas; an earlier application for similar relief had been withdrawn.

At the hearing, he produced an itinerary for travel from 3 October 2026 to 26 January 2027, but it did not specify his places of stay or an international contact number.

Whether the petitioner should be permitted to travel abroad while the criminal case and further investigation remained pending.

Whether, and on what conditions, the LOC should be suspended for the period of the proposed travel.

The petitioner was charged under Sections 420, 465 and 471 read with Section 120-B IPC, and the CBI’s further investigation was stated to have been authorised under Section 173(8) CrPC.

The Court cited no precedent or express statutory test governing permission to travel or suspension of an LOC.

It exercised its discretion on the application, making relief conditional on the petitioner providing specified travel and contact details and undertaking to remain available to the prosecuting agency.

The Court considered the petitioner’s stated family reasons and the fact that the proceedings remained at the further-investigation stage, but also took account of his repeated failure to travel despite earlier permissions.

The itinerary alone was insufficient because it omitted the addresses or places of stay and a contact number, making it difficult for the CBI to contact him if required.

The Court therefore granted limited travel permission subject to disclosure of his places of stay, provision of an international roaming number, and an undertaking of continuous availability; it also warned that further relief would not be granted if he again failed to travel.

The petitioner was permitted to travel abroad from 2 October 2026 to 27 January 2027, both dates inclusive, subject to the stated conditions.

The LOC was to remain suspended from 00:00 on 2 October 2026 until 12:00 p.m. on 27 January 2027.

The Court directed that no further relief would be granted if the petitioner did not travel during this period.

No costs were ordered.