HC in Sunday sitting questions Delhi Police over Detention of 10 Activists: “On what Legal Basis were they held?”

In a rare Sunday sitting, the Delhi High Court sought an explanation from the Delhi Police after authorities informed the court that ten activists allegedly held in unlawful custody had been released. A division bench led by Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja directed the police to clarify the circumstances and legal basis for the detention, signalling judicial concern over allegations that individuals were picked up without following mandatory legal safeguards.

The proceedings arose from habeas corpus petitions filed by activists including Ehsanul Haq, Rajbir and Sagrika Rajora, who alleged that several individuals had been taken into custody by men in plain clothes and held at undisclosed locations without being produced before a magistrate. Counsel appearing for the petitioners claimed that the detainees had been subjected to threats and mistreatment while in custody and that most were freed only after the issue gained media attention.

One of the petitions sought the production of 22 year old Lakshita Rajora, who was reported missing from the Vijay Nagar area near Delhi University after visiting a student organisation’s office. The petitioners further alleged that multiple persons present at the same location had disappeared around the same time, raising suspicions of unlawful detention by officials.

Taking note of the police statement that all detainees had been released, the bench nevertheless directed authorities to place on record the legal authority under which the individuals had been held. The Court also ordered the police to trace another individual, Rudra, whose whereabouts were disputed during the hearing, and to preserve CCTV footage from relevant locations.

Emphasising the need for transparency, the bench directed the police to provide details explaining the detentions and issued notice in the petitions, while listing the matter for further hearing.