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The Delhi High Court has instructed the Delhi Police to explain the circumstances under which several students and activists were taken into custody in the national capital earlier this week.
The direction was issued during a special hearing held over the weekend.
A bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja examined the habeas corpus petitions. These petitions were submitted by family members of the detainees.
The petitioners alleged that the individuals had been picked up from different parts of the city. They claimed the detainees were being held without lawful authority.
During the proceedings, Additional Standing Counsel Sanjeev Bhandari represented the police before the court. He informed the bench that the ten individuals taken into custody on March 13 and 14 had already been released.
After recording the submission made by the police counsel, the court issued a notice to the Delhi Police.
It also directed the authorities to file an affidavit within a week explaining the legal provisions and circumstances under which the students and activists had been detained.
The bench noted, “We are informed that, as far as the missing persons alleged to have been illegally detained, they have since been released. The respondent (Delhi Police) shall file an affidavit explaining the circumstances and the authority of the law by which they were detained within a week from today.”
CCTV Footage to Be Preserved
The court also instructed the Delhi Police to secure CCTV footage from three locations. These were places from where the individuals were allegedly taken into custody.
The locations included Dayal Singh College and the North Campus of the University of Delhi. The Jahangirpuri locality was also among the sites mentioned.
During the hearing, lawyers representing the petitioners addressed the court. They stated that most of the detainees had already been released. However, they added that one student, Rudra Vikram Roy, could still not be traced. They informed the bench that his whereabouts were still unknown.
Taking note of the submission, the bench directed the police to determine his location and inform the court.
The court further observed that if the students are required to assist in the investigation, they must cooperate with the authorities.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on March 27, while the petition concerning the missing individual will be considered on Monday.
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