RPO mulling initiating action against Medha Patkar

Mumbai: Activist Medha Patkar has been served notice by the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Mumbai, on grounds that she did not reveal the criminal cases against her. The RPO has sought clarification from her as to why her passport should not be impounded for not revealing the information.

The RPO Mumbai has noted that nine criminal cases have been registered against her, of which, three are in Barwani, one in Alirajpur and five in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. These cases are currently being heard.

The notice states that while obtaining her passport dated March 30, 2017, she did not disclose the pendency of these cases and obtained the passport by suppressing information.

“In view of the same, it is proposed to impound your (Ms Patkar’s) passport bearing and any other passport if issued subsequently under section 10(3) (e) of the Passports Act, 1967. You (Ms Patkar) are requested to state why action should not be taken under section 12(1) of the Passports Act, 1967,” the notice issued by the passport office on October 18 states.

Following the notice, RPO officials have sought an explanation within 10 days else they have warned of initiating action. The move comes in the backdrop of a complaint filed by a journalist against Ms Patkar in June that she obtained her passport by concealing and suppressing material facts from the RPO Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Ms Patkar is yet to submit any reply to the RPO despite the passage of almost a month. Officials said that section 10(3) of the Passports Act, 1967, states that “the passport authority may impound or cause to be impounded or revoke a passport or travel document section (e) if proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the holder of the passport or travel document are pending before a criminal court in India.”

The RPO is mulling initiating action against Ms Patkar, sources said.