Madhya Pradesh High Court: In a writ petition challenging the petitioner’s detention by the police based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations, specifically a WhatsApp message against the Prime Minister and Vice President of India, a single-judge bench of Vishal Dhagat, J., granted time to the respondents to substantiate their claims regarding the WhatsApp message and its connection to the petitioner.
In the instant matter, the petitioner challenged his detention by the police during the official visit of the Prime Minister and Vice President of India. It was contended that he had been unlawfully detained based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations, specifically a WhatsApp message.
However, the State submitted that there was a WhatsApp message allegedly circulated by the petitioner indicating that he may “disturb or block the cavalcade of Prime Minister and Vice President.” The respondents asserted that the petitioner “remained at police station during the visit of Prime Minister and Vice President on his own Will.”
The respondents also contended that the petitioner had a record of 25 criminal cases, and hence, the action taken was a lawful preventive measure. It was further emphasised that while “in a democratic country, protestors can protest but they cannot disturb the protocol of Prime Minister and Vice President.”
The Court granted three weeks’ time to the respondents to produce evidence and demonstrate that the WhatsApp message in question had a connection with the petitioner. The Court made no final findings on the legality of the detention at this stage and deferred further consideration. The Court listed the matter after three weeks.
[Ajeet Singh Anand v. State of M.P., Writ Petition No. 11750 of 2024, Decided on 24-03-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
Shri Ajeet Singh Anand, Petitioner present in person
Shri Prakash Upadhyay, Senior Advocate with Shri Prashant Dubey, Counsel for the Respondent No. 3
Shri Mukund Agrawal, Government Advocate, Counsel for the State
