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Person Under Detention To Be Released if No Order Passed Within 24 Hours Authorizing His Detention: Madhya Pradesh High Court

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court heard the matter where the Petitioner had filed a Writ Petition in nature of Habeas Corpus and contented that no Order had been passed since his detention. Thus, the Court directed that the Petitioner shall be free to file a bail application under the provisions of the CrPC.

Background

The Petitioner’s Ashram was demolished due to an allegation of illegal construction and on the same date itself, he was detained along with his disciples. He contended that his six disciples were already released on 09.11.2020, but he had not yet been released and no Order was passed in the matter.

It was also stated that as per Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, it is required that if a person was under detention beyond 24 hours, then the Order must be passed to authorize his detention. The issue, in this case, was that no such Order had been passed in the present matter, a revision was preferred before the District Judge, Indore on 11.11.2020. Some Orders had been passed earlier in respect of his detention, and the revision was disposed of.

Submissions before the Court

Petitioner’s Submissions

Learned Counsel for the Petitioner, Shri Chhabra had submitted that no copy of the Order was given to the Petitioner and after knowing the contents of the Order, the Petitioner had come to know that he had been directed to furnish a bank guarantee for a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- for his release to the Sub Divisional Magistrate. It had been further stated that it was on record that the bank guarantee was prepared immediately in the matter, however, the authorities were not accepting it.

He had further argued that subsequently, a First Information Report was lodged on 12.11.2020 at Police Station-Gandhi Nagar in respect of the incident involving offences punishable under Sections 56/34 of the Indian Penal Code r/w Section 3 of Schedule Caste & Schedule Tribe(Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It was also stated that the F.I.R. was an afterthought to circumvent the Petitioner’s release under Section 151 of the CrPC, 1973.

Heavy reliance was placed upon the judgment delivered in the case of D.K. Basu v/s The State of West Bengal (1997)1 SCC 416. It had also been argued by the learned counsel that in the case of, the Hon’ble Supreme Court had directed to release the Petitioner therein.

Respondent’s Submissions

Learned Additional Advocate General, Shri Pushyamitra Bhargav, had vehemently argued before this Court that the authorities were ready to accept the bank guarantee, however, it was not submitted, and therefore, the Petitioner was not released. He had asserted that so far as the criminal cases against the Petitioner were concerned, the CrPC provides for the grant of bail and a Writ Petition like Habeas Corpus was thus not maintainable in the present case facts and circumstances.

Consideration by Court

After the record was perused and the learned counsel for the parties had been heard, the Court had a considered opinion that the present case required a detailed reply and the same be filed positively within four weeks.

Shri Pushyamitra Bhargav learned Additional Advocate General had also ensured this Court that he would make the case-diary available before the learned Judge and service of notice to the complainant shall also be done by the office of Advocate General through the Investigating Officer in respect of the bail applications.

The Registry of this Court had informed this Court that in the District Court, the Judicial Officers shall be available tomorrow, and therefore, the Petitioner shall be able to submit his bail application in respect of such other criminal cases and the bail application of the petitioner shall be decided on the same day by the law.

Court’s Directions

The Hon’ble Court stated that so far as the prayer for grant of interim relief was concerned, the Petitioner was directed to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs.5,00,000/- and he had prepared a bank guarantee also, therefore, the State was directed to accept the bank guarantee and to release the Petitioner.

It was further directed that in the concerned other criminal cases, the Petitioner shall be free to file a bail application under the provisions of the CrPC. It was also made clear that the release of the Petitioner in the proceedings under Section 151 of the CrPC, 1973 shall certainly be subject to other such criminal cases. In case, the Petitioner was not required to be detained in any other criminal case, he shall be released forthwith.

Click here to read the judgment.


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