Barreto, who plays for Mohun Bagan, was arrested on March 20 by the Customs authorities at the NSC Bose International Airport for violating certain provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The Customs had recovered foreign exchange worth Rs 8 lakh from his possession while he was about to fly to Brazil. He was released on bail the same day by the sessions court, with some riders.

On April 7, the Barasat sessions court directed the Customs authorities to either hand over the passport to Barreto or place it before the court on April 17.

Advocate Biswa Ranjan Ghoshal, counsel for Customs, moved the plea that the passport of Barreto could not be handed over as the investigation was on. He should not be allowed to leave India as the Customs authorities would be helpless if he did not return from Brazil, the counsel said.

Barreto had confessed during the interrogation that he had purchased the foreign exchange from the New Market. But he refused to disclose the identity of the two persons who were involved in the transaction. Customs officials suspect a racket to be behind the transaction. Barreto might have also taken foreign exchange from India during his earlier visits abroad, Ghoshal alleged.

Advocate Jaymalya Bagchi, counsel for Barreto, argued that he was ready to give a personal guarantee on Barreto’s return to India as it was his professional obligation to return by May 25 this year.