Can't Supply FIR Copy To Activists Claiming Illegal Detention: Delhi Police Tells High Court

The Delhi Police on Sunday told the Delhi High Court that they cannot supply copy of FIR filed against various activists claiming that they were illegally detained.

A division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja held a special sitting held on Sunday and issued notice in the habeas corpus petitions filed by Ehsanul Haq, Rajbir and Sagrika Rajora.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for petitioner Ehsanul Haq, said the situation was "alarming" and urged the court to direct the police to give them a copy of the FIR.

However, the Police opposed the request and said that the FIR cannot be supplied to the individuals.

“We are not closing the petition. We are issuing notice to find out what happened," the Bench said.

The Delhi Police said that all 10 activists have been released.

The Bench asked the Police to explain the circumstances and the authority in law under which they were detained.

Also Read: As Delhi Police Say 10 Activists Released, High Court Seeks Explanation On Reasons For Their Detention

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Haq, Advocate Sharukh Alam represented Rajbir and Advocate Jasdeep Dhillon appeared for Rajora.

One of the habeas corpus pleas has been filed by Advocate Deeksha Dwivedi on behalf of one Sagrika Rajora seeking directions to the State and police authorities to immediately produce her sister, Lakshita Rajora, before the Court.

The petition seeks production of the 22-year-old woman claiming that she has been missing since the evening of March 13 from the Vijay Nagar area near Delhi University.

According to the plea, the detenue had gone to the office of a student organisation located in Vijay Nagar near Delhi University North Campus on the evening of March 13, after which she became untraceable at around 8 PM and her phone was found switched off.

It has been alleged that several other individuals present at the same office also went missing around the same time.

Rajora has expressed a “grave and well-founded apprehension” that her sister may have been illegally picked up by officials of the Special Cell, Delhi Police.

She has stated that about eight months earlier, the detenue and her associates were allegedly subjected to illegal detention and custodial torture by the same agency for over a week without formal arrest or production before a magistrate.

Title: SAGRIKA RAJORA v. THE STATE (NCT OF DELHI) & ORS and other connected matters