P. Veera Venkata Satyanarayana vs. Union Of INDIA - Telangana High Court, 08 January 2026

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances

[ 33001 tN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE EIGHTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRIJUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION NO:32864 OF 2025 Between: P. Veera Venkata Satyanarayana, S/o. Sri P. Sambasiva Rao, Age- 60 years, Occ; Self-Employed, R/o. Fiat No. 802, Royal Pavilion Apartments, Ameerpet, Hyderabad - 500016. .....PETITIONER AND 1. Union of lndia, Ministry of External Affairs, Represented by its Secretary, CPV and OIA Division, Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg, New Delhi - 'l 10001. 2. The Regional PassportOfficer, Regional PassportOffice, Hyderabad D. No. 8-2-215to 219, Kummarguda, Secunderabad - 500003. 3. The Additional Assistant Director, Director General of GST lntelligence' Hyderabad Zonal Unit Rep. through Special Public Prosecutor D. No. 1-1 1- 22414,Opp. HDFC Bank, Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016. .....RESPONDENTS Petition Under Article 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in.the nature of ' Writ of Mandamus a. Declaring that the action of Respondent No.3 submitting the passport vide no. Y8399475 belonging to the petitioner to the custody of the Honorable Special Judge for Trial of Cases under Economic Offences at Nampally, Hyderabad and the action of the Honorable Trial Court retaining the passport in continuous custody is unlaMul, arbitrary and in violation of the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967 more particularly section 10 of the Act' violating fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, more particularly Article 14, 19 end 21 b.Consequently, direct the trial Court to return the passport vide no. Y8399475 to the petitioner. !.A.NO:1 OF 2025 Petition lJnder Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumsta'nces stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the Hon'ltle Special Judge for Trial of Cases under Economic Offences at Nampally, Hyderabad to return the passport of the Petitioner in view of the immediate onward and return travel between Mumbai, lndia to Sharjah, UAE for the dates 01.1 1.2025 & 23.11.2025 for the professional purpose on any terms and conditions as per this Hon'ble Court pending disposal of the main writ petition. counsel for ther Petitioner : SRI P.vENUGOPAL, sENloR couNSEL FoR SRI KUMARAS'WAMY NAMBURI Counsel for the, Respondents : SRI N.BHUJANGA RAo, DEPUTY SoLIclToR GENERAL OF INDIA

The Court madr-r the following ORDER

t-1t n IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA HOI{'BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 32A64 OF 2ol25 oa.oL.20/26 Between: P. Veera Venkata Sat5ianarayana ..... Petitioner And Union of India, Ministry of External Affairs, Rep. by its Secretary & others Respondents OR ER: Sri P. Venugopal, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of Sri N. Kumara Swamy, learned counsel for petitioner submits that petitioner is facing trail in C.C.No. 47 of 2023 on the file of the Special Judge for Trial of Cases under Economic Offences at Nampally for violation of the provisions under GST Act, hence, his passport has been impounded before the trial Court. He submits that since petitioner has a bonafide requirement to travel UAE, he moved Crl.M.P.No. 263 of 2024 for custody of the passport for travelling abroad, however, the trial Court uide order dated O5.O8.2O24 denied the same. According to learned Senicr Counsel, petitioner is a practising i , i

2 Chartere<l Accountant and has professional and personal interests and assets in India, hence, the apprehension that he might nol. return to India if passport is released is unfounded.

1.1.

On the previous occasions, petitioner secured the passport for limited purposes and surrendered the same before the trial court, contends learned senior counsel. He places reliance ()n the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme court in Suresh .Nanda a. Centrq.l Burequ of lrurcstigationt in support of his contentions.

On the other hand, learned learned Standing counsel for central Government appearing on beharf of Respondent No.l smt. N.v.R. Rajya Lakshmi submits that petitioner has to file appropriate Application before the trial court which will take action in accordance with law, in the light of the onier dated o3.o9.2o25 in writ petition No. 24690 of 2025. However, considering the limited purpose and duration of travel abrcad and the urgent nature of business requirement as pleaded l:efore this court, petitioner was directed to file appropriate Application before the trial court for return of his passport :ior the purpose of travel to UAE from 05.11 .2o2s to 24-Ll-2o25; on filing such Application, the trial court shall ' lzoos;3 sc(: 674 a I \_.'t / / -

3 forthwith return passport to petitioner by imposing appropriate condition(s) on petitioner, as per law, including the condition that he would not overstay his period in UAE beyond 24.17.2025 and he shall promptly surrender the passport before the trial Court by 26.L1.2025. 3. Pursuant to the said order, petitioner surrendered the passport before the trial Court on 26.11.2025 and to that effect, a memo was liled before this Court. Subsequenfly, on O5.01 .2026, this Court directed petitioner to file an appropriate Application before the trial Court for release of passport. Accordingly, petitioner had taken out Crl.M.P.No. 5 of 2026 in C.C.No. 47 of 2023. He filed the said Application along with the memo dated 07.0I.2026 before this Court. In view of the same, learned Central Government Standing Counsel submits that criminal Court may be directed to take a decision on the Application.

In view of the same, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing the learned Special Judge for Trial of Economic offences at Nampally, Hyderabad to consider and dispose of Crl.M.P.No. 5 of 2026 in C.C. No. 47 of 2023 in accordance with law, subject to imposing appropriate conditions, within four two from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. t /lI I I

4 5 Consequently, the miscellaneous Applications, if a any shall stand closed. / P.PONUe XnrSXrue ASSISTANT REGISTRAR //II G To SA GJP SECTION OFFICER

The Sec'etary, Union of lndia, Ministry of External Affairs, CPV and OIA Division, Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg, New Delhi - 1 10001 .

The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, Hyderabad D. No. 8-2-215 t.o 219, Kummarguda, Secunderabad - 500003. 3. The Spe':ial Public Prosecutor, Additional Assistant Director, Director General of GST lrrtelligence, Hyderabad Zonal Unit D. No. 1-11-22414, Opp. HDFC Bank, Be'gumpet, Hyderabad - 500016. 4. One CC to SRI KUMARASWAMY NAMBURI, Advocate [OPUC]

One CC to SRI N.BHUJANGA RAO, DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL OF lNDIA, A,Jvocate [OPUC]

Two CD'lopies Ef;:^-.. ' aa*i:A -r . '+: -t.)'r. I

"/ a HIGH COURT DATED:0t8/0112026 ORDER WP.No.3l2864 of 2025 DISPOSING OF THE W.P oo 2 I IAN ?[2t .(ru IAi,: '(. ( - ?:. * * I -q a Ati.?*', '' ' W,. tn WITHOU]T COSTS.