New Delhi: A court has allowed Natasha Narwal, an accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case, to complete the formalities necessary for obtaining a 10-year Indian passport, while making it clear that the order does not authorise her to travel abroad.Additional sessions judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts clarified that she cannot leave the country after obtaining the passport unless she secures a separate order permitting it. The judge directed that she must deposit the document before the court on the following day after it is issued.The “larger conspiracy” case is being investigated by Delhi Police’s special cell and Narwal faces charges under, among others, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.The order was passed on her application seeking permission to approach the passport authority for issuance of the document. Her counsel submitted that the request was confined to completing the “statutory formalities” and did not, at this stage, seek permission for foreign travel. After the passport is issued, she would surrender it before the trial court and seek permission to travel to UK for pursuing her PhD, the counsel added.Delhi Police opposed the application, contending that she should first approach the passport authority and seek judicial intervention only if any objection was raised to the issuance of the document.Her counsel referred to the Ministry of External Affairs memorandum dated Dec 6, 2024, submitting that a court’s permission to depart from India was required for processing the passport application.The court ultimately permitted Narwal to depart from India only for the limited purpose of completing the passport issuance formalities, while making it clear that she would have to seek a fresh order before travelling abroad after receiving the passport.
