Is it illegal

[anjali_devi]

I was naturalized recently and now hold a UK passport.

I used to be an indian national before.

I have a pouch in which I carry both my UK and indian passort (My indian passport is cancelled, so I cannot use it).

My friend tells me even carrying my indian passport along with my UK one is illegal.

Is it so?

[vinny]

If your Indian passport was not cancelled, then it may be illegal in India, but not in the UK. However, I don't see how carrying a cancelled Indian passport would be a problem.

[sac]

nope, that's fine and legal; your friend is mistaken.

by law you cannot hold a valid indian passport as well as a valid passport of another country - ie, you cannot be a citizen of india as well as of another country.

one is required to 'surrender' the indian passport when you acquire another nationality. maybe this is what confused your friend. but what this word actually means is that the indian passport will simply be negated for use (corners clipped) and returned to you... just like when you renew the indian passport and they cancel the old one.

obviously you then cannot use it for travel or identity any longer. but you are absolutely free to carry it around or keep it in storage for reference purposes.

[anjali_devi]

Thank you Vinny and Sac.

This has put my mind to ease.