'Won't Permit This': Bombay High Court On Alleged Illegal Detentions During Mumbai CEC Protests
Narsi Benwal
13 Oct 2026 4:05 PM IST
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday, while hearing a PIL alleging that Mumbai Police detained protesters and passers-by during anti-CEC protests held in the city on October 10 and 11, orally said that it would not permit illegal detentions.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna was hearing a PIL filed by Sagar Kantilal Devre, alleging that around 600 persons were detained on October 10 and another 300 on October 11. The petition claims that those detained included passers-by, women, a mother with a child and a senior citizen.
“We will take care of the issue but obviously we will not permit this [illegal detention],” Chief Justice Tripathi said.
The Court however asked the petitioner to place specific instances of alleged illegal detentions on record.
“Bring everything on record... We cannot straight away say no detention at all... But each and every example needs to be brought on record.”
The Government Counsel sought an adjournment, stating that he had just received a copy of the petition.
The matter was accordingly adjourned to Monday.
The PIL alleges that certain persons were also picked up from their homes because their names appeared in FIRs relating to July 2026 protests, despite those FIRs having been quashed by the Supreme Court.
The petitioner has sought preservation of CCTV footage and police records, a verified list of persons detained and an independent inquiry into the alleged use of force.
