The fast track court handling INX Media bribery case cautioned former IAS officer Sindhushree Khullar for renewal of her surrendered passport without court’s approval. Niti Ayog ex-ceo Khullar is an accused in the bribery case along with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and son Karti. After becoming accused, her passport was surrendered in the court and the passport was expired in 2023.
Without informing the MP/MLA fast track court, Khullar facing trial, renewed her passport and in August 2025, she informed the court that she was not aware of the rules.
“It is also submitted that subsequently the applicant came to know and was legally advised that the applicant ought not to have got the passport renewed without permission of this Court, and therefore vide her application dated 12 August 25 she deposited her passport back with the passport authority, and now a formal permission is sought under the present application from this Court.
The said application dated 12 August 25 given by the applicant before the passport authorities for resubmission of the passport is at page 6 of this application,” said the order, detailing the petition of Sindhushree Khullar, 1975 batch IAS officer from UT cadre.
CBI argued that the retired IAS officer facing charges of conspiracy with Chidambaram in INX Media bribery case ought to be reprimanded for getting the passport renewed without the permission of the Court. “Anyhow, since it appears that the applicant got the passport renewed in ignorance, without permission/NOC from the Court, she is cautioned to be careful in future.
“Ld. Counsel for the applicant has in all fairness submitted today that the applicant is willing to deposit that passport with this Court after obtaining back from the passport authorities as the applicant nurtures apprehension that the passport authorities being overburdened may not be able to keep the same in safe custody and there is a risk of its loss,” said the order delivered by Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh on September 10, uploaded recently.
“Let the applicant (Sindhushree Khullar) obtain back the passport from the passport authorities on the basis of this Order and the passport authorities shall release the passport no. Z7618945 with the date of issue as 15 December 23, to the applicant on the basis of this Order.
Thereafter, within three working days of obtaining her passport back from the passport authorities, the applicant shall deposit that passport with the Ahlmad of this Court and the passport of this applicant shall remain with the Ahlmad of this Court,” said the order.
