India Must Honour Bilateral Agreements With US: Madras HC Denies Clearance Certificate To Man Who Supplied Helicopters To Iraq Despite US Sanction

The Madras High Court refused to grant a clearance certificate to Hameed Ibrahim, who is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly supplying helicopters to Iraq in violation of US sanctions. The court emphasized the need to honor bilateral agreements with the US, which had requested action against Ibrahim. The ED argued that allowing Ibrahim to travel abroad could jeopardize the investigation and bilateral relations. The court agreed, noting that revoking the Look Out Circular against Ibrahim could be detrimental to India’s strategic relationship with the US. The decision underscores the importance of adhering to international agreements and ensuring accountability in cases of alleged money laundering.