Bombay High Court orders release of seven anti-ECI protesters

The Bombay High Court at Goa has ordered the immediate release of seven individuals detained during a protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) at Azad Maidan in Panaji. A division bench comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S. Jamsandekar observed that the detention appeared unauthorized, noting the absence of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

The detainees, including Afreen Shaikh and Jack Sukhija, were held at the Pernem police station following a protest by the Cockroach Janata Party demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. While police and an Executive Magistrate defended the action by stating the group had entered the ground after a public gathering application was rejected, the Court directed the return of their mobile phones and ordered their release after counsel assured the court that no overnight protests would occur at the site.

Following the court's release order, police inspectors from Panaji and Pernem, along with an Executive Magistrate, filed affidavits in the Bombay High Court defending the legality of the detention, citing the need to address the apprehended disturbance.