States » WestPosted at: Oct 19 2026 4:55PM


Maha: Bombay HC questions police detention claims, warns against disruption during peaceful protests

Mumbai, Oct 19 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to respond to allegations of illegal detention and police brutality during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while observing that peaceful protests must not inconvenience the public.
A bench of Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said citizens had the right to protest but could not create law-and-order problems. The court declined to consider blanket protection against police action without examining protesters' credentials and observed that Maharashtra Police had exercised restraint.
The proceedings arose from a petition filed by advocate Sagar Devre and intervention applications concerning demonstrations in Mumbai supporting protests in Delhi. Local residents, represented by advocates RV Govilkar and Mihir Govilkar, complained of inconvenience caused by the agitation.
Advocate Gayatri Singh, representing four allegedly detained intervenors, claimed protesters were taken to police stations for an entire day and subsequently placed under house arrest. Adv Mihir Desai cited two affidavits alleging people were picked up from their homes. He also described an incident in which police allegedly stopped an Uber (a private aggregator) taxi, asked its driver to leave and took a woman passenger to a police station. Another intervenor alleged that his two daughters were detained.
Advocate General Milind Sathe denied detentions, saying police merely cleared roads allegedly blocked by protesters near the heritage August Kranti Maidan.
The public interest litigation alleges that approximately 600 people were detained on October 10 and another 30 on October 11 during demonstrations at Hutatma Chowk and Shivaji Park. Those allegedly detained included passers-by, students, women accompanied by children and senior citizens. It further claims a 25-year-old man suffered a panic attack at Tardeo police station and required treatment at Nair Hospital.
The court directed the state and original petitioners to submit replies within two weeks, followed by rejoinders within another week.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 19.
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