The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal Police to ensure that a woman arrested at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in connection with a criminal case registered in Uttar Pradesh is produced before the jurisdictional court in Gautam Buddh Nagar within seven days.

A Division Bench of Justices Rishad Medora and Tirthankar Ghosh passed the direction while disposing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Jaynab Ara Khatun, who had challenged her detention.

The Court noted that the petitioner had been apprehended at NSCBI Airport in connection with an FIR registered at Sector 58 Police Station, Noida, on December 24, 2020.

Referring to orders dated August 16 and August 19, 2026, passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barrackpore, the Court noted that the petitioner's transit remand had been rejected and her bail application had also been refused. She had remained in custody since August 16, 2026.

The Bench further noted that the State had failed to produce any document showing that the petitioner was wanted in connection with any criminal case in West Bengal.

It observed that all 13 cases referred to by the authorities arose in connection with Sector 58 Police Station in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

The Court clarified that it was examining the merits of the matter without entering into the maintainability of the habeas corpus petition or the issues raised by the petitioner concerning the reasons and grounds of her arrest.

"Having considered that there are specific criminal cases against the petitioner, we are of the opinion that petitioner be immediately placed before the jurisdictional Court having authority to exercise its powers over Sector 58 police station, Gautam Buddh Nagar, UP," the Bench observed.

The Court was also informed that the petitioner was in a failing state of health. Taking note of this, it directed that if the Uttar Pradesh Police authorities were unavailable, the West Bengal Police would make the necessary arrangements and precautions to produce her before the jurisdictional court in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bench directed that the entire process be completed within seven days.

The proceedings were taken up pursuant to directions issued by the Supreme Court in Special Leave Petition (Criminal) Diary No. 65168 of 2026.

Case Title: Jaynab Ara Khatun v. State of West Bengal & Ors.

Case No.: WPA (H) 96 of 2026 with CAN 1 of 2026