Horse Trading Going On In Entire Maharashtra; If You Have FIRs, Switch Sides, There Is 'Washing Machine', Says Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (July 2) orally commented that "horse trading" was going on in the entire State of Maharashtra, and that a political leader can get the criminal cases against oneself closed by joining the "washing machine", in an oblique reference to the ruling party.

Justice Madhav Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by one Saeed Ahmad Abdul Wahid Chaudhary (49), the general secretary of the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI), challenging the externment order passed by the Maharashtra police against him over his protests against the Union Government and the BJP.

The Judge quashed the externment order, observing that merely holding protests against the Government cannot be a ground for such an action. The Judge also made strong oral remarks deprecating the tendency of the Government to curb protests, saying that "citizens were being made by the slaves of the Indian Government."

Justice Jamdar also commented on the ongoing "horse-trading" in Maharashtra's political arena with Members of Parliaments (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) switching parties. This came after the judge noted Saeed belonged to SDPI, a political party.

"Day before yesterday, one 10 years child was killed in an accident and what the State Assembly was discussing - how a Presiding Officer is elected and how he has shifted from one party to the another... What is this? Even you (Saeed) should switch sides... anyways horse trading is going on in entire Maharashtra. You (Saeed) have some FIRs... consider switching sides, there is a washing machine," the judge said in a lighter vein.

In the dictated order, Justice Jamdar made it clear that mere opposition to the decisions of the Government does not become a ground for externing a citizen and the same, if done, would affect their fundamental right to speech and dignity.

"The Petitioner acting in his capacity has arranged Morchas and Dharnas against certain decisions taken by the Government of India. That cannot be a ground for a person to be externed under the Maharashtra Police Act. The action taken is mala fide action. Accordingly writ is disposed of with the quashing of the externment order. As per the Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India not only citizens have the freedom to express their opinion but also to live with dignity. The action taken by the respondents against the petitioner for merely opposing certain decisions of the Government of India affects his fundamental rights," Justice Jamdar dictated in the order.

With this, the bench disposed of the plea and quashed and set aside the December 3, 2025 and March 27, 2026 orders passed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 6) and Divisional Commissioner, Konkan Division, respectively, by which Saeed was externed for a year.