Rihen Harshad MehtaversusUNION OF INDIA ( THROUGH MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS) AND ORS

       Digitally
       signed by
       MEERA
MEERA MAHESH
MAHESH JADHAV
JADHAV Date:
       2026.09.30
       15:12:05
       +0530                                            1 of 6                    4-ia-7481-26


                             IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                     CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
                                 INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 7481 OF 2026
                                                  IN
                                    WRIT PETITION NO. 4356 OF 2021

                    Rihen Harshad Mehta                          ...Applicant

                           Versus
                    Union Of India ( Through Ministry
                    Of Home Affairs) And Ors                     ...Respondents
                                                 _________
                    Mr. Anoshak Davar a/w Ms Ravina Rajpal, Ms Archi Gala i/b VMH
                    & Associates for Applicant.
                    Mr. D. P. Singh for Respondent No.1.
                    Mr. Harsh Sheth a/w Shanmukh Puranik i/b MDP Legal for
                    Respondent No.4 bank.
                    Mr. P. N. Diwan, AGP for State.
                                                __________

                                       CORAM : SARANG V. KOTWAL &
                                               RANJITSINHA RAJA BHONSALE, JJ.

                                       DATE    : 28th SEPTEMBER 2026.

                    PC :

                    1.        This is an application preferred by the Applicant seeking

                    permission for travel to Thailand from 26th November 2026 to 4th

                    December 2026 and USA and Europe from 12 th January 2027 to

                    19th February 2027.

                    2.        Heard Mr. Anoshak Davar, learned counsel for the

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Applicant, Mr. D.P. Singh, learned Counsel for the Respondent No.1

– UOI, Mr. Harsh Sheth, learned counsel for the Respondent No.4

and Mr. P. N. Diwan, learned AGP. for the Respondent – State.

3.        The Look Out Circular was issued against the Applicant at

the instance of the Respondent No.4 Bank of Baroda. The

Applicant had challenged the said Look Out Circular by preferring

Writ Petition No.4356/2021. By order dated 23 rd April 2024 this

Court had decided the said petition. The said order was challenged

by the Petitioner before the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide Special

Leave to Appeal (C) Nos.17194-17230 of 2024. The said SLPs are

pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Pursuant to the

directions and observations of the Hon'ble Supreme Court the

Applicant had filed an application seeking permission from this

Court to travel abroad.

4.        Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the

Applicant has been granted permission in the past to travel abroad.

It was submitted that pursuant to the orders dated 25 th November

2025, 30th March 2022, 8th September 2022, 20th October 2022, 9th

March 2023, 26th April 2023, 27th June 2023, 17th October 2023,


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19th December 2023, 27th May 2025, 25th November 2025 and

lastly on 23rd April 2026, the Applicant has been permitted to

travel abroad.   Learned Counsel the Applicant submits that the

Applicant is engaged on a consultancy basis by FRHueb Inc., a

company registered under the laws of USA having headquarter in

New York City. Pursuant to his employment and responsibilities, he

is required to travel to foreign countries including United States to

attend client meetings and for work related purposes. Learned

Counsel for the Applicant submits that all the expenses of his

travel and accommodation as well as other costs in respect of the

said travel are to be borne by the said company.

5.        Learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.4 has

opposed for grant of any reliefs to the Applicant. It was submitted

that in case the Court is inclined to grant the reliefs, the same may

be subject to the conditions which have been imposed in the

earlier orders. Perusal of the record indicates that amongst other

conditions imposed, the Applicant has been directed to deposit the

Share Certificate No.9 issued by Vijay Deeep Cooperative Housing

Society Limited in respect of flat bequeathed to his wife Mrs.


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Deepika Mehta. The Applicant is also directed to file the affidavit

and undertaking in respect of the compliance of the conditions.

6.        During the hearing of the present Application, the Learned

Counsel appearing for the Applicant, on instructions, submitted

that the Applicant would deposit the original Share Certificate and

the original Probate with the Registry of this Court, with a request

that the same be returned to the Applicant upon his return to

India, subject to his complying with the terms and conditions

stipulated in the order.

7.        Considering the aforesaid submissions and the various

orders whereby the Applicant has been permitted to travel abroad,

we are satisfied that the Applicant has made out a case and

demonstrated his bona fides for being permitted to travel to

Thailand, USA and Europe for the dates as more particularly

mentioned in the prayer clause. Hence the following order:-

                               ORDER

i.        The Applicant is permitted to travel abroad to Thailand

from 26th November 2026 to 4th December 2026 and to USA and

Europe from 12th January 2027 to 19th February 2027, on the


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following conditions:-

          a) The    Applicant    shall    deposit      the      original     Share

Certificate    Share    Certificate   No.9        issued   by     Vijay     Deeep

Cooperative Housing Society Limited in respect of flat bequeathed

to his wife Mrs. Deepika Mehta and also the original Probate,

before the Registry of this Court within a period of two weeks from

today. On his return to India, the Registry shall hand over those

documents to the Applicant on establishing his identity to the

satisfaction of the Registry.         The Applicant shall inform the

Respondent bank of such deposit of and taking back of documents

as early as possible.

          b) The Applicant shall also file detailed itinerary of his

travel to Thailand, USA and Europe for the dates as mentioned

above.

          c)   The Applicant shall also inform Respondent No.4 Bank

of his itinerary and travel details and also his date of return. The

Applicant shall furnish the telephone numbers, addresses and

contact numbers to the learned counsel for the Respondent No.4

Bank within a period of two weeks from today.


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ii)       Once, the aforesaid conditions are fulfilled, the Applicant

is permitted to travel to Thailand from 26th November 2026 to 4th

December 2026 and USA and Europe from 12 th January 2027 to

19th February 2027.

iii)      Interim Application is disposed of accordingly.




(RANJITSINHA RAJA BHONSALE, J.)                (SARANG V. KOTWAL, J.)




Meera Jadhav