MP High Court orders police to produce woman detained while travelling to Delhi for CJP protest

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday directed police to produce a woman allegedly detained at Itarsi railway junction while travelling from Pune to Delhi to participate in the proposed October 10 protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alpesh Y Kogje and Justice Vivek Jain issued notice to the state government on a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman's sibling, who alleged that she had been assaulted by police and kept at an undisclosed location since October 8.

The court made the notice returnable on October 13 and directed the state authorities to produce the woman before it. It also permitted the government to arrange her safe return to her family.

Court directs production

Hearing the petition, the bench ordered that the detained woman be produced before the High Court and clarified that the state could do so even before the next scheduled hearing, provided prior notice was given to the petitioner.

The court also allowed the authorities to make arrangements for her safe return to her family, providing an alternative to her production before the bench.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 13.

Family alleges illegal detention

According to the petition, the woman was on her way to participate in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The petitioner alleged that police personnel assaulted the woman during the detention and subsequently kept her at a location that was not disclosed to her family.

The allegations of assault and unlawful detention have not been established by the court. The High Court's immediate direction concerns her production or safe return, and does not constitute a final determination on the legality of the police action.

Detentions ahead of Delhi protest

The High Court's intervention comes amid reports of police detaining several people travelling through Madhya Pradesh to attend the proposed demonstration in Delhi.

According to separate reports, at least 30 protesters travelling from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra were intercepted at railway stations in Bhopal, Itarsi and Gwalior. Police said those detained were being counselled and advised to return to their respective states.

The detentions have raised questions over restrictions on the movement of people intending to participate in the protest, particularly when individuals are intercepted before reaching the demonstration venue.

Delhi Police have denied permission for the October 10 gathering at Jantar Mantar, citing the late submission of the organisers' application and alleged violations of conditions during an earlier protest.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court's directions provide an immediate judicial avenue for determining the whereabouts of the detained woman and ensuring that she is either produced before the court or returned safely to her family.

The case will be taken up again on October 13.