The division bench issued the order after reviewing CCTV footage submitted by Indramani Patel, TI of Chandan Nagar police station. Earlier, Patel had cited “technical difficulties” in producing the footage, but later handed over recordings that showed 32-year-old Raja Dubey kept inside the station for an extended period and handcuffed throughout.
During the hearing, the court questioned the TI’s explanation that the police station “remained open” and officers feared the detainee might run away. The bench dismissed the justification, remarking, “You handcuffed him—why not put shackles on him too?” and pressed the officer to answer whether Raja had been held in custody. When he failed to deny it, the court treated it as an admission.
The case reached the High Court after Raja’s brother-in-law Akash Tiwari filed a habeas corpus petition, alleging that police had illegally detained Raja to pressure the family while they searched for his father, Sanjay Dubey, a real-estate developer booked under the POCSO Act on 12 November. Investigators have been unable to trace the accused, prompting officers identified as Crime Branch personnel to allegedly pick up Raja for interrogation.
The bench noted that questioning cannot extend for 30 hours and criticised the lack of adherence to legal safeguards. Investigating officer Sandhya Nigam told the court she was on leave the day Raja was detained, prompting the judges to summon the TI personally.
The court has sought a detailed report on the inquiry and ordered that all evidence, including CCTV footage, be submitted within two weeks.
