1 of 4 28-ia-2923-26 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 2923 OF 2026 IN CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 4173 OF 2026 Manjari Ashok Kacker ..Applicant Versus Union of India & Anr. ..Respondents __________ Mr. Tushad Kakalia a/w. Kartik Hede, D. J. Kakalia, Bhakti Chandan, Paresh Patkar and Mr. Ayaan Zariwalla i/b. Mulla & Mulla and Craigie Blunt & Caroe for Applicant. Mr. Amit Munde, SPP a/w. Jai Vohra for CBI/Respondent No.2. __________ CORAM : SARANG V. KOTWAL & RANJITSINHA RAJA BHONSALE, JJ. DATE : 3 SEPTEMBER 2026 PC : 1. This is an interim application for permission to the Applicant to travel to Bhutan between 27.09.2026 to 04.10.2026 in accordance with the itinerary annexed at Exhibit-A to this application. 2. Learned counsel for the Applicant submitted that, there is a Look Out Circular (LOC) pending against her, initiated at the Gokhale VINOD BHASKAR GOKHALE Digitally signed by VINOD BHASKAR GOKHALE Date: 2026.09.07 11:25:25 +0530 2 of 4 28-ia-2923-26 instance of CBI-Respondent No.2 who was the contesting party. 3. Mr. Munde, learned Special PP appearing for the Respondent No.2-CBI, on instructions, states that the CBI has no objection if the permission is granted to the Applicant to travel to Bhutan during that period, provided suitable conditions are imposed. The statement made by the learned counsel for the CBI is recorded. In that view, we are inclined to allow this application. 4. The case of the Applicant is that, she was a Non Executive Director on the Board of RCOM on 16.09.2014 and subsequently she became an Independent Director on 18.09.2018. She resigned from the Board on 15.11.2019. She is a 74 year old senior citizen. She was an Officer of the Indian Revenue Service, and has served on various prestigious posts in the Income Tax Department for more than 30 years, and retired as a former member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi. She also served as a Functional Director (Vigilance and Security) in Air India and has represented India in international conferences. She has more than 37 years of experience in the fields of taxation, 3 of 4 28-ia-2923-26 finance, administration and vigilance. Post retirement, the Applicant was nominated as a Director of the LIC from April 2013 to March 2016 by the Government of India. 5. Learned counsel for the Applicant invited our attention to the past history when she had travelled abroad between the year 2019 to 2025. She had travelled on 12 such occasions. He, therefore, submitted that, she is not at a flight risk and she will be available in India. 6. Considering this situation and particularly taking into account no objection given by the CBI to allow this application, we are inclined to allow this application and permit the Applicant to travel to Bhutan. 7. Hence, the following order: O R D E R i) The Applicant is permitted to travel to Bhutan between 27.09.2026 to 04.10.2026. ii) She shall furnish the detailed itinerary including the places where she would be staying; along 4 of 4 28-ia-2923-26 with the contact numbers on which she can be contacted during that period, to the Investigating Officer, at least 48 hours before departure. iii) The Applicant shall accordingly inform the Investigating Officer once she returns back to India, within 48 hours of her return. iv) On these conditions, the Applicant is permitted to travel abroad, as mentioned earlier. During that period, the LOC issued at the instance of CBI in connection with CBI case No. RC 2(E)/2026 shall remain stayed. v) It is made clear that this order is passed only in respect of this particular LOC. vi) The Application is disposed of. (RANJITSINHA RAJA BHONSALE, J.) (SARANG V. KOTWAL, J.)