New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office has given strict instructions to all agencies that no high profile accused should leave the country to avoid investigations.

Following the instructions, the ministry of corporate affairs has sent almost two dozen of requisition for issuing of Look-Out Circular (LOC) to Intelligence Bureau (IB) to forward these requisition to Immigration Bureau so that high profile accused facing any investigation could not run away from the country.

The names of almost 24 such high profile accused have been sent on the suspicion where investigations are pending with agencies including Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Registrar of Companies or with any other agency. Four out of 24 have already been stopped at the airport recently.

"Agencies have been warned that no miss of high profile accused/ suspect would be tolerated. almost 24 LOCs have been issued by MCA. The government wants to restrict their travel abroad and keep a watch on their movement so that they don't get a chance to avoid investigation," a senior SFIO official told MyNation.

So far, four such high profiles directors/ex-directors have been detained, which also includes Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal. The couple is facing an investigation in connection with their roles as directors.

Also, Jet Airways' former CEO Vinay Dube has also been stopped by Immigration Bureau to fly abroad due to a pending investigation. Similarly, ex-Religare MD Sunil Godhwani was detained at Delhi's IGI airport while he was trying to fly abroad. He is facing allegations of financial irregularities and SFIO is investigating the case.

Last month, founder of Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal were stopped from leaving the country by the immigration officials at the Mumbai airport. They were stopped as the Goyal couple were among 24 high profile suspects against whom the ministry had issued LOC.

Also read: Naresh Goyal: From aviation superman to 'chor' in pilots' eyes

What is LOC?

To keep a check/ restrict travel of a particular person, agencies and police like the Enforcement Directorate, Police department, National Investigation Agency, Customs and Income Tax Departments, Directorate of Revenue intelligence, SFIO etc send request to competent authorities to inform them whenever a suspect/accused/person trying to travel outside country or coming back.