The RPO stated this in an affidavit in reply to a petition filed by Bedi seeking directions to the passport office to take a decision on her application for re-issuance of her passport.

"Under section 6(2)(f) of the Passport Act, the passport authority shall refuse to issue passport, if any proceedings in respect of the offence alleged to have been committed by the petitioner (Bedi) is pending before a criminal court," the affidavit said.