The Delhi High Court has given permission to Mohd. Yasin Patel, a US national who was convicted in 2003 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and for sedition, to travel abroad for four weeks. Patel wants to visit his sick father in Chicago. The court has allowed this travel but with conditions, including a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and surety bonds from his family members.
Patel was arrested in 2002 for putting up posters with the slogan ‘Destroy Nationalism Establish Khilafat’ near a university library. He was sentenced to five and seven years for these offenses, but in 2004 the sentence was suspended with the condition that he cannot leave Delhi without court permission.
The court acknowledged Patel’s compliance with previous travel permissions and his commitment to return on time. However, if he doesn’t come back as scheduled, the personal surety bonds will be forfeited and legal action may be taken against him.
The court has ordered the prosecution to release Patel’s passport and instructed him to apply for a VISA to return to India.
