Journalist Rana Ayyub was allowed to travel abroad by the Delhi High Court on Monday, days after she was prevented from doing so due to a lookout circular issued against her.
Ayyub had moved the Delhi High Court after she was prevented from boarding a flight to London on March 29 from Mumbai. Ayyub, long considered a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was to travel to London to attend events related to the global problem of cyber attacks on women journalists, as well as to deliver a keynote speech on the status of journalism in India.
She was detained and informed by immigration officials they had instructions from the ED to not allow her to board the flight and the immigration stamp on her passport was stamped 'cancelled'.
Ayyub was being investigated in an alleged case of money laundering involving violation of foreign funding rules while collecting donations for Covid-19 relief.
On Monday, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh allowed Ayyub to travel abroad, subject to some conditions. Live Law reported that Justice Singh asked Ayyub to deposit some money and also inform authorities about her whereabouts and phone number overseas.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, who appeared for Ayyub, declared her client had been in constant touch with the ED and had been willing to appear for questioning.
Grower alleged the lookout notice was issued after Ayyub publicised her programmes on social media. “The entire operation is malafide. The press is the fourth pillar of democracy. I am someone who speaks truth to power. I ask tough questions,” Grower was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.
Justice Singh chided ED's lawyer, S.V. Raju, for claiming Ayyub had not 'cooperated' with the investigation by providing documents. “If any accused person is appearing before agency and agency is saying the person is appearing but not cooperating, what is the stick to measure this? If there is non-cooperation then why don't you arrest her?” Justice Singh was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.
