The Delhi High Court has granted permission to environmental lawyer Ritwick Dutta, who is facing charges under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and has been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to travel to Switzerland and Germany.

The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad considered Ritwick Dutta's extensive legal practice spanning 21 years in the national capital, where he founded the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE). Notably, Dutta was honored with the Right to Livelihood Award in 2021.

The Court also noted Dutta's societal connections, emphasizing his deep roots within the community. As a result, permission was granted for his upcoming travels abroad scheduled for next week and in December. Dutta has planned a visit to Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled from November 23 to November 25. Additionally, he has requested permission to travel to Germany from December 3 to December 8.

The order was issued in response to Dutta's petition contesting the Look-Out Circular (LOC) issued against him by the CBI. The agency alleges that Dutta received foreign contributions from Earthjustice, a US-based nonprofit public interest organization, purportedly to impede coal projects in India.

It was brought to the Court's attention that Dutta has been granted an opportunity to partake in a one-day seminar organized by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment.

Considering the facts and circumstances, the Court allowed Dutta to travel to Geneva and Germany subject to certain conditions including furnishing a security of ₹5 lakh. 

“The permission to travel abroad given in this order shall be subject to other applicable conditions, and will not be deemed as a direction to any other authority,” Justice Prasad while disposing of Dutta’s application. 

Senior Advocate Trideep Pais with Advocates Abhishek and A Reyna Shruti represented the petitioner. On the other hand, Advocate Anurag Ahluwalia with Abhigyan Siddhan represented the Union of India

Special Public Prosecutor Ripu Daman Bhardwaj with Advocates Kushagra Kumar and Abhinav Bhardwaj represented the CBI

Case Title  - Ritwick Dutta v. Union of India and Ors

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