APHC010716962025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3327]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY, THE TWENTIETH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.456 OF 2026 Between:

Surisetty Naveen ...PETITIONER AND Union of India and others ...RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. RAMA KRISHNA A Counsel for the Respondents:

1. Sri B. Hanumantha Rao (SC for Central Govt.)

2. GP for Home The Court made the following ORDER:

The Writ Petition is filed seeking to declare the action of respondent Nos.3 and 5 in issuing Look-out Circular (LOC) No.2024441946, dated 20.11.2025, against the petitioner at the instance of the de facto complainant and her family members in Crime No.223 of 2021 of Disha Women Police Station, Visakhapatnam, registered for the offences punishable under Section 498-A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act (CC No.1824 of 2022 on the file of the learned I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam), as illegal and arbitrary and consequently to set aside the Look-Out Circular dated 20.11.2025 and to permit the petitioner to go abroad for short official assignment.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he is working as Director – Recruiting at SSI Staffing (India) Private Limited, Bangalore. His marriage with one Kushma was performed on 22.06.2019. Subsequently, due to misunderstandings between them, he filed a divorce case against his wife under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, vide MC No.2343 of 2021 on the file of the learned Principal Family Judge, Bangalore, which was transferred to the Family Court, Visakhapatnam, and renumbered as FCOP No.1969 of 2024. Petitioner states that after receiving notice in the said MC, his wife filed a criminal case against him and his family members in Crime No.223 of 2021 of Disha Women Police Station, Visakhapatnam, under Section 498-A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, which was taken on file as CC No.1824 of 2022 on the file of the learned I Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam. She also filed DVC No.15 of 2024 on the file of the learned III Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Gajuwaka. In addition to the above cases, she filed maintenance case vide FCOP No.901 of 2024 and for restitution of conjugal rights vide FCOP No.903 of 2024 on the file of the learned Judge, Family Court- cum-V Additional District Judge, Visakhapatnam, and the said cases are pending. Petitioner states that they filed Crl.P.Nos.4543 and 4757 of 2025 seeking to quash the proceedings in CC No.1824 of 2022 and DVC No.15 of 2024, wherein this Court granted interim orders dispensing with their appearance before the Court below. Petitioner further states that after receiving summons in the above said cases, he has been regularly attending before the Court below. When he was absent on one occasion, NBW was issued against him in CC No.1824 of 2022 and he immediately appeared within two days and the NBW was recalled by the Court below. He has been fully cooperating with the Investigating agency and regularly appearing before the Court below on all adjournments. Petitioner states that, recently when he was stopped at Bangalore International Airport by 3^rd respondent because of Look-out Circular (LOC) dated 20.11.2025, he came to know that LOC was issued in December 2024 through 5^th respondent and pending against him. Despite his cooperation with the Investigating agency and recall of NBW, the LOC was issued against him illegally. He is required to travel abroad for a short official assignment as a part of his employment. His intention to travel abroad is purely for work- related reasons and not to evade the judicial proceedings in any manner. He made a representation dated 26.11.2025 requesting respondent Nos.3, 5 and 8 to cancel/withdraw the LOC issued against him and to grant permission to travel abroad for short period and as no action