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Eases , Allows Minister B Nagendra to Travel Across India
The has permanently relaxed a restrictive imposed on State Minister B. Nagendra, allowing him to travel freely across India without seeking prior court permission. The order by Justice M. Nagaprasanna deleted a clause that required the minister to obtain written permission before leaving Karnataka, citing his changed circumstances after being inducted into the state cabinet.
From Ordinary Citizen to Cabinet Minister: A Shift in Circumstances
Nagendra, who holds the Planning and Statistics portfolio in Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s cabinet, is an accused in the case arising from the alleged Rs 94.73-crore scam at the . He was granted in by a special court, with one condition—condition (c)—requiring him to surrender his passport and not leave the state without written court permission.
However, Nagendra was inducted into the cabinet on , after having resigned earlier in when the scam allegations first surfaced. His new role required frequent travel beyond Karnataka for official duties, making the existing condition impractical.
, appearing for Nagendra, argued that approaching the each time for travel permission was time-consuming and hindered the minister’s ability to . “For the last two years, he has had to make an application before the concerned court to seek permission to travel out of the State,” Phanindra submitted.
ED Objects: Proper Forum Was
The , represented by , opposed the petition on two grounds. First, it contended that Nagendra should have approached the for modification of bail conditions rather than the High Court directly. Second, the ASG argued that since Nagendra had consistently sought from the over the past two years, he could not now seek permanent deletion of the condition.
The court, however, noted the exigencies of Nagendra’s office. “The petitioner is now inducted into the Cabinet of Ministers in the . Due to his induction as a Minister in the Cabinet, in the discharge of his official duties, it would be necessary for him to go beyond the State,” Justice Nagaprasanna observed during an earlier hearing.
“Unsustainable” Condition Deleted; Court Draws a Line at International Travel
In its final order, the court declared condition (c) unsustainable in light of Nagendra’s ministerial responsibilities. “The said condition that the petitioner shall not leave the State without obtaining is unsustainable. Therefore, it shall remain stayed,” the court ruled.
However, the court made a critical distinction: the relaxation applied only to domestic travel. “It is made clear that his travel will be only within the country and not beyond the country,” the order stated. For any foreign travel, Nagendra must still seek permission from the or the High Court.
The court reasoned that allowing unfettered domestic travel would not while ensuring the minister could fulfill his official duties. “Not permitting him to travel within the country would curtail his liberty and the position that he is holding today,” the court added.
Key Observations
“In light of him being a minister in the cabinet, and holding the portfolio… would necessarily require him to travel beyond the shores of this jurisdiction. … petitioner is free to travel within the country, as not permitting him to travel within the court would curtail his liberty and the post he is holding today.”
What This Means Going Forward
The order marks a pragmatic adjustment of bail conditions to accommodate the realities of public office. While Nagendra can now move freely within India for political and administrative work, the court has retained over international travel, ensuring the integrity of the ongoing money-laundering investigation remains unaffected.
A separate application by the seeking cancellation of Nagendra’s bail is still pending before the High Court, keeping the larger legal battle alive in the Valmiki Corporation case.
(Case Title: B Nagendra v. | Criminal Petition No. 12007/2026 | Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 311)
