The Bombay High Court on Thursday denied the renewal of a passport to Pilaji Sursingh Jadhavrao, son of Maharashtra BJP leader and former Agriculture Minister Dada Jadhavrao, due to pending criminal cases against him.
Jadhavrao had applied for a long-term passport renewal in August 2024 after his passport expired in April. However, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) directed him to seek court permission, citing ongoing criminal proceedings.
The bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Advait Sethna allowed Jadhavrao to approach a criminal court for approval but upheld the RPO’s decision to deny his passport renewal under Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act, which restricts passport issuance for individuals facing criminal trials.
Jadhavrao is accused of being involved in a 2005 attack on the Sawad Police Station in Pune, where he and 74 others allegedly assaulted police personnel. Although he was granted bail, the case remains pending. Despite this, he was issued a one-year passport in 2023, which he used to travel to the United Kingdom.
Advocate Abhijit Kulkarni, representing Jadhavrao, argued that his client has never been convicted and fully cooperates with law enforcement. He pointed out that denying the passport violates Jadhavrao’s constitutional right to travel under Article 21, especially since he needs to visit the UK for his daughter’s education.
Government counsel Leena Patil defended the RPO’s decision, citing a 1993 government notification that requires court approval for passport issuance in cases involving pending criminal trials.
The court ruled that Jadhavrao must seek permission from the criminal court, which must decide on his application within 10 days. The case highlights the legal challenges faced by individuals with pending criminal charges when applying for travel documents.