The Madhya Pradesh High Court, while hearing a case concerning the detention of a man for over 24 hours, has granted the State Government three weeks' time to provide evidence connecting the petitioner to an alleged WhatsApp message. This message was said to pose a threat to the security convoy of the Prime Minister and the Vice President of India.
The matter came before Justice Vishal Dhagat in Writ Petition No. 11750 of 2024, filed by petitioner Ajeet Singh Anand alias Mange Sardar. The petitioner appeared in person, challenging his sudden and unexplained detention by local police authorities.
As per the details presented, the petitioner was picked up from his residence on the morning of June 20, 2023, around 7:00 AM, and taken to the police station without any clear reason. He was confined for more than 24 hours and released the next day without any formal charges being presented against him. According to the petitioner, no official explanation or documentation was provided for his detention.
After his release, the petitioner filed a written complaint with the station in charge. However, when no action was taken, he approached the Superintendent of Police with another written complaint. Despite these efforts, the authorities failed to act or provide any accountability. The petitioner argued that this wrongful detention damaged his reputation in society and caused significant mental stress. As a result, he sought a compensation of ₹5,00,000 and demanded appropriate action against the officials involved in the incident.
"The petitioner claims that his social standing has been harmed and that he suffered mental anguish due to unlawful detention," the petition reads.
Representing the State and police authorities, Senior Advocate Shri Prakash Upadhyay and Government Advocate Shri Mukund Agrawal requested three weeks' time from the court. They stated that the petitioner was called to the police station because of a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by him, which hinted at disrupting the convoy of the Prime Minister and the Vice President. They further argued that the petitioner chose to remain at the police station voluntarily during the visit of these dignitaries.
It was also submitted that the petitioner has a criminal record, with 25 cases previously registered against him. According to the state, the police acted within their legal rights based on this background and the seriousness of the security threat.
"In a democratic country, protestors may express their dissent, but they are not permitted to interfere with the protocol and security arrangements of high-ranking officials like the Prime Minister and Vice President," the State’s counsel told the Court.
Justice Vishal Dhagat allowed the plea and granted the respondents a period of three weeks to submit concrete proof that the WhatsApp message in question is indeed linked to the petitioner and justifies his detention.
"Three weeks' time is granted to respondents to show that WhatsApp message has some connection with petitioner," the Court observed.
The case will be listed again after three weeks, as per the Court's direction.
