Bengaluru: In a recent ruling, the High Court has ordered that passports of individuals accused in criminal cases should be returned to them upon acquittal by the trial court. The decision came in response to a petition filed by Francis Xavier Crasto from Bengaluru, who was acquitted in a criminal case.
The single judge bench of Justice M Naga Prasanna emphasized that trial courts should not withhold passports beyond the appeal period after an acquittal. The High Court has directed the concerned court to return Francis Xavier’s passport. The ruling came after the trial court denied returning the passport citing the pending appeal period. In 2015, Francis Xavier was charged in a criminal case at Soladevanahalli Police Station in Bangalore, and his passport was seized by the Bangalore Rural District Court.
However, on April 12, 2023, he was declared innocent and acquitted. Despite the acquittal, the trial court refused to return the passport under Section 452 of the CrPC. Challenging this decision, Francis approached the High Court.
