The High Court · 2025

Srinivasa Anjaneyulu Veerapaneni, Age.49years, Occ:Business S/o. Devendra Rao Veerapaneni, Flat No.804, F-Block, Apila Apartments, Gandipet, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana - 500075. ...PETITIONER AND 1 The Union of lndia, Rep. by its Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House, Tilak t\Iarg, New Delhi - 110001. 2 The Regional Passport Officer, Regional Passport Office, D.No.B-2-215 to 219, Kummarguda, Secunderabad - 500003, Telangana.

3. The State of Telangana, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Home Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad.

4. The Station House Officer, Narasingi Police Station, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana. " RR 3 and 4 are impleaded as per C.O.04.11.2025 in lA. No.212025 * ...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 pteased to is$u-e a Writ or Order more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF TUANDAMUS declaring the action of Respondent No.2 in issuing the letter dated 0911012025, bearing No. HYD/30/POL/P|C/119212025 as arbitrary, illegal and colourable exercise and mis-use of powers contemplated under pass port Act and also violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of lndia and consequently set-aside letter dated Ogl1ol2025, bearing No. HYD/30/POL/P\C|119212025 issued by the Respondent No.2 tA NO: 1 OF 2025 petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to stay the operation of the impugned notice dated 911012025, bearing No. HyD/30/pOLtPlCl1192l2O25 issued by the Respondent No.2 and all further proceedings pursuant to the impugned letter set-aside letter dated 0911012025, pending disposal:of the above Writ Petition Counsel for the Petitioner : SRI A P REDDY Gounsel for the Respondent Nos. 1 &2: SRI K ARVIND KUMAR, SC FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Counsel for the Respondent Nos' 3 & 4 : GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: ORDER THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAI(A il: WRIT PETITION No.32778 OF 2025 ORDER: This Writ petition is filed declaring the action of Respondent No.2 in issuing the letter dated 09.10.2025 bearing No.HYD/ so / PoL / Prc / | 192 I 2025 as arbitrary illegal and colourable exercise and misuse of powers contemplated under passport Act and also violative of Article 2L of the Constitution of India and consequently set-aside letter dated 09.10.2025 issued by the Respondent No 2.

2.. Heard Mr.A.P.Reddy, learned counsel for petitioner and Sri K.Arvind Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for Central Government for respondent No.1. Perused the record.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner submits th4t petitioner was issued a passport under File No.HY4075463631025. on O2.O9 .2025, he received a communication from the l"t respondent seeking clarification regarding the pending criminal case, to which he submitted a detailed reply the same day, stating that the case is false and that no conviction has been recorded. Thereafter, by letter dated o9.lo.2o2s, respondent No,l alleged \ \ i \ I I -Y 2 Act, 1 g6|.Due suppression of matErial facts and directed him to surrender his passport under Section 1O(3Xb) of the passport the unfortunate demise of his father, petitioner courd nct appear on 23.10.2025 as required in the impugnecl notice, but he duly informed the respondent through a written communication 22' 10'2025 exprain'rg the urravoid.bre circumstances. 4. Learned Standing Counsel for the Central Government for respondent No' 1 submits that the petitioner suppressed the fact of pendency of criminar proceedings in the rerevant corumn of the application form, which constitutes an offence under Section 12(1)(b) of the passports Act, 1967 and attracts action under Section lO(3Xb). The pendency of crimi attracts section 1o(3)(e) of the passport. o,"' ct, 1962. It is further stated that the Regionar passport office, Hyderabad, uide retter dated og' 1 0.2025, directed the petitioner to surrender his passport within I5 {ays, f,ailing which action und.. the passports Act, 1967 would U*" i.riti.ted without further notice. proceedings

5. \ \ Learnecl counsel for the petitioner further submitted that er is ready and willing to deposit his origrnal passport the learned Triat Court in connection with Crime No.396 of of Narsing poiice Station, registered for the alleged offences ;./ under Sections 3 and 4 0f the Telangana Gaming Act. He further submits that, until the said crime is quashed, he is acquitted, or the proceedings are finaily concluded, the petitioner w,l obtain prior permission of the rearned Trial court for any proposed foreign travel.

6. In view of the above submisstons, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction that the petitioner shalt deposit his original passport before the learned Trial court in connection with crirne No.396 of 2022. However, whenever the petitioner intends to travel abroad, he is at liberty to file an apprication before the learned Magistrate seeking permission, and it shall be for the learned Magistrate to consider the same in accordance with law. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ petition, shall stand closed. SD/.A. GOWRI SHANKAR //TRUE COPYII OFFICER To, Unidn of lndia, New Delhi - 110001

1. The. Secretary, Ministry 9f E{grnal Affairs, Patiala House, Tilak Marg, The 2. The Regional Passport Office.r, Regional Passport Office, D.No.8-2-215 to 3. The Principal Secretary, Home Department, Secretariat, The State of 219, Kummarguda, Secunderabad - 500003, Telangana. Telangana, HYderabad. Telangana.

4. The Station House Officer, Narasingi Police Station, Ranga Reddy District, 5. One cC to sRl A P REDDY Advocate [OPUC] 6. One CC to SRI K ARVIND KUIVIAR SC FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 7. Two CCs to GP FOR HOME, High Court for the State of Telangana, at Hyderabad TOUTI

8. Two CD Copies M PVL BS ,. HIGH COURT DATED :2St11t2O2S o D DER WP.No.327Tg of 2025 '[ ri; S14 14: C) 18 EE[, zut * * c1-1 ;;l DISPOSING OF THE WRIT WTHOUT COSTS PETITION