Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana high court has quashed a lookout circular (LOC) issued against a US-based man accused in a criminal case registered in Faridabad, observing that there was no justification for it as there was no order by a magistrate to provide his biometrics.Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya directed the Faridabad police commissioner to issue instructions within two days to withdraw the LOC.The LOC was issued on Oct 1, 2026, in connection with an FIR registered on April 21, 2025, under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 498A (cruelty towards a married woman by her husband or his relatives) and 506 (criminal intimidation).Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Anil Malhotra and advocates Ranjit Malhotra and Ankit Malhotra contended that he was a Green Card holder and had been living in the US for over 25 years. His marriage had ended in divorce, and his former wife had brought their children to India without his consent.The counsel submitted that he had joined the investigation online and submitted detailed responses through communications. Upon arriving at Chandigarh airport on Oct 4, 2026, he was informed about the LOC. After furnishing an undertaking, he was permitted to leave the airport and appeared before Faridabad police the following day.The counsel further submitted that he had been granted regular bail by a Faridabad court on Oct 21, 2026, and HC had already directed that no coercive action be taken against him subject to his joining the investigation.The state counsel submitted that the only reason for not withdrawing the LOC was the petitioner’s failure to provide biometrics / measurements required under the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022.Rejecting the argument, the HC bench observed, “The objection to withdrawal of LOC — the petitioner’s refusal to furnish his biometrics / measurements — cannot be insisted upon since it is a kind of coercion which has already been barred vide the aforesaid order… It is not in dispute that no such order has been passed by the magistrate directing the petitioner to provide his biometrics.”Allowing the petition, HC directed withdrawal of the LOC and clarified that since the petitioner was on bail, he was at liberty to approach the court for permission to leave the country.