In a rare and puzzling case, the Supreme Court has ordered an inquiry into the mysterious departure of a man, facing contempt charges, to the United States despite his passport being in the custody of the court. A bench consisting of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prashant Kumar Mishra expressed astonishment over how the individual managed to leave the country without a passport. The court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.
The case revolves around a custody dispute between the man and his ex-wife over their child. The court directed the Home Ministry to ensure the man’s return and bring him to justice. The bench sought assistance from additional solicitor general K M Nataraj to investigate how the respondent left India and who might have aided in his escape.
This order followed a contempt plea filed by the wife after the man failed to comply with a settlement reached in 2019, which required him to hand over custody of their child to her. The man had been ordered to appear in court on multiple occasions but failed to attend hearings in January 2024.
The bench is set to hear the case again on February 19, 2025, after requesting updates from the Home Ministry on the situation.
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