The Delhi High Court on Thursday (May 14, 2026) recalled its order quashing the Centre’s decision to reject journalist Siddharth Varadarajan’s plea seeking conversion of his Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said Mr. Varadarajan failed to disclose the existence of a 2020 Allahabad High Court order that granted him anticipatory bail in a criminal case and imposed conditions, such as surrendering his passport and restricting travel abroad without permission from the trial court concerned.
The court also recalled its May 13 order asking the authorities to consider an application by Mr. Varadarajan, a U.S. citizen, for a “return visa” and allowing him to travel to Estonia between May 14 and 19.
Justice Kaurav issued notice to Mr. Varadarajan and asked him to file an affidavit in seven working days to explain his conduct.
“A perusal of the entire pleadings and the submissions till now by the petitioner, nowhere discloses the binding directions of the Allahabad High Court to the petitioner. In all fairness, the petitioner should have truthfully disclosed the said aspect. The court is prima facie of the opinion that the petitioner is guilty of suppressing material facts,” the court said.
