Jaydeep Madhukar Wakankar v. State of Andhra Pradesh
In the High Court of Andhra Pradesh
W.P. 13311/2022
Before Justice C.M. Roy
Decided on July 05, 2022

Relevancy of the Case: Validity of a Look Out Circular issued in a case registered under the Information Technology Act, 2000

Statutes and Provisions Involved

• The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 65)
• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1992 (Section 482)

Relevant Facts of the Case

• The petitioner is the first accused in a registered case with the Cyber Crime Police Station under the IT Act, which was under investigation.
• The respondent issued an LOC (Look Out Circular) against the petitioner.
• Earlier, the court had granted an interim measure to the petitioner by ordering the police to not take any coercive steps against the petitioner till the next date of hearing.
• This petition has challenged the legal validity of the LOC issued against the petitioner.

Prominent Arguments by the Advocates

• The government pleader submitted that according to the Home Ministry’s guidelines, an LOC is only valid for one year. Further, the Commissioner of Police has instructed the removal of the petitioner’s name.

Opinion of the Bench

• It appears that the petitioner’s grievance has already been addressed.

Final Decision

• The court closed the petition, along with any pending miscellaneous petitions.