HC quashes summons issued to Swiss national in criminal case

Ranchi: The High Court has quashed the summons issued to a Swiss national in a criminal case. The court, after considering the facts of the case, stated that the summons was directly issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court, which, according to the law, is not appropriate.

In its order, the court also clarified that under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), when an investigating agency requests the presence of an individual from another country, it is necessary to send the draft request to the Ministry of Home Affairs' Internal Security Department.

The case involved Mark Reidy, an Irish citizen and permanent resident of Switzerland. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Ranchi Civil Court had issued a summons against him. In response, Mark Reidy approached the High Court seeking the cancellation of the summons. In his petition, Reidy argued that the summons issued to him was without legal authority and was not in accordance with the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between India and Switzerland.