Allows travel to Goa for investigation in sexual assault case
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday stayed the operation of a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against a retired UAE Army personnel in connection with a sexual assault case while observing that the relief was necessary to enable him to travel to Goa and join the investigation.
Justice Jitendra Jain of the Vacation Bench passed the order in response to a petition filed by Obaid Jassim Obaid Albaqali seeking the quashing of the LOC issued.
Referring to the petition, the court noted that Albaqali is presently in Dubai and intends to arrive in Goa on May 22. “The Petitioner is right now in Dubai and wishes to arrive at Goa on May 22, 2026. Unless the LOC is stayed, he will not be able to comply with the terms and conditions of the Order dated March 04, 2026 granting Anticipatory Bail,” the court observed.
The High Court also recorded that anticipatory bail was granted subject to conditions, including joining the investigation.
Granting interim relief, the court said, “Therefore, in the interest of justice, to enable the Petitioner to arrive at Goa and join the investigation, the operation of the LOC, which is the subject matter of the Petition, is stayed.”
The Bench further directed the State government to consider writing to Union authorities for closure of the LOC issued in June 2025. This came with a request to all authorities to inform ports across the country, including Goa airport, about the order to ensure that the petitioner is not detained upon arrival.
“All the Respondents are requested to inform at all the Ports in India, including Goa Airport, about the present order so that the Petitioner is not detained at the Airport on account of the impugned Look Out Circular,” the order stated. The matter has been posted for further hearing on June 16.
Albaqali is facing allegations of sexually exploiting a woman on the false promise of marriage after the two met through a matrimonial website. As per the complainant, he allegedly persuaded her to enter into a physical relationship during a trip to Goa in May 2025 on the assurance that he would marry her, but later refused to do so.
