The High Court has granted permission to renew the passport of former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, who was convicted in the coal scam case, for a three-year period. Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma noted that Darda had previously been allowed to travel abroad without misusing the privilege.
Last September, Darda’s four-year sentence was suspended with the condition that he could not leave the country without prior permission from the court. Taking into account these circumstances, the court directed the renewal of Darda’s passport for three years.
The court also considered a notification from August 25, 1993, regarding the renewal of passports for individuals facing criminal charges in Indian courts. Justice Sharma disposed of Darda’s application seeking a ten-year renewal.
Darda, who frequently travels for professional engagements and client meetings, argued for the renewal, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposed it. CBI cited a government memorandum specifying that passports for individuals facing criminal charges should be issued for a maximum of one year, or as specified by a court order.
