- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32851 WP No. 19242 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 19242 OF 2026 (GM-PASS) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. BEJGAM RAVINDRA PRASAD, AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, S/O. BEJGAM MALLESHAM, NO.210, R.V ADVIK APARTMENT, K.V. RANGAREDDY, TELANGANA - 560 006. 2. SRI. MAGGIDI RENOLDS, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, S/O MAGGIDI VIJAY BHASKAR, 9-2-115 GODEN GADDA, KARIM NAGAR, TELANGANA - 505 001. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. RAVI SHANKAR K., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. PASSPORT AUTHORITY, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY DSGI, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, JAWAHARLAL BHAVAN JANPATH, NEW DELHI - 110 001. 2. THE REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICER, REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE, REPRESENTED BY DSGI, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32851 WP No. 19242 of 2026 1-8-368 TO 372 GOWRA TRINITY , BEGUM PET HYDERABAD - 500 016. 3. THE CHANDRA LAYOUT POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT COMPLEX, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RESHMA K. THAMMAIAH., CGC FOR R1 AND R2; SRI. MOHAMMED JAFAR SHAH.,AGA FOR R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT R2 AND R3 TO PROCESS AND RENEW/RE-ISSUE THE PASSPORTS OF THE PETITIONERS BEARING PASSPORT NOS.P2619124 AND P1184342 ANNEXURE-F AND F1 AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER Smt. Reshma K. Thammaiah, learned counsel accepts notice for respondents No.1 and 2. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent No.3. 1. The petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a) Issue a writ of mandamus directing Respondent Nos.2 and 3 to process and renew/re-issue the passports of the Petitioners - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32851 WP No. 19242 of 2026 bearing Passport Nos.P2619124 and P1184342 Annexure-F and F1. b) Direct the Respondents to consider the Petitioners' applications in accordance with Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, 1967 read with the applicable Government Notifications and guidelines Annexure-G. c) Pass such other order or direction as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity." 2. Petitioner No.1 being a passport-holder which expired on 29.05.2026 and petitioner No.2 being a passport- holder which expired on 04.05.2026, had made an application for renewal of their passports on 19.06.2026. The said applications were not processed on account of pending criminal proceedings. In that background, the petitioners are before this Court seeking for the aforesaid reliefs. 3. The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that petitioner No.1 is accused No.3 and petitioner No.2 is accused No.11 in Cr.No.149/2023 registered by the Chandra Layout - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32851 WP No. 19242 of 2026 Police Station, Bengaluru for the offences punishable under Sections 120B, 406, 419, 420, 465, 468, 471, 506 and 34 of the IPC. Insofar as the said proceedings are concerned, accused No.7, 9 and 12 have approached this Court by filing a proceeding under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., and those proceedings have been quashed against the said accused, which has been affirmed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in SLP.No.1611/2026. 4. Insofar as the petitioners are concerned, the petitioners have filed Criminal Petition No.11223/2025, in which there is an order of stay of further proceedings granted by this Court on 09.04.2026. The petitioners having business interests are required to travel abroad frequently and it is in that background that the application ought to have been considered is his submission. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32851 WP No. 19242 of 2026 5. On enquiry, as to whether the trial Court has granted permission to the petitioner to travel abroad, the submission is that since the proceedings have been stayed, application could not be made. But an application would be made for consideration by the trial Court and once the permission is granted, the same would be furnished to the respondent- authority. Considering that there is a stay of further proceedings in CC.No.25093/2026, the IV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate is directed to consider the application for travel, if and so filed by the petitioner, though there is a stay granted by this Court on 09.04.2026 in Crl.P.No.11223/2025. 6. In the event of permission to travel being granted by the trial Court and the same, if furnished to the respondent No.2, respondent No.2 is directed to consider the fresh application to be filed by the petitioners for renewal of the passport and issue a short-validity passport within a period of 3 weeks - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32851 WP No. 19242 of 2026 from the date on which the said permission granted by the Magistrate Court is provided to respondent No.2. 7. The petitioners are permitted to file a fresh application for re-issuance of passport, since the earlier passport has already expired. 8. The petition stands disposed, in view of the same. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE MCR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 14