The Bombay High Court took six protesters' medical reports on record. The case questions police authority to detain activists without prohibitory orders.
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Panaji,Oct 19, 2026 16:02 IST
The Bombay High Court on Monday took on record the medical reports of six of the seven Cockroach Janta Party protesters detained by Goa Police during a demonstration seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
The court is hearing petitions challenging the detention of the protesters at Azad Maidan on October 11. A division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar allowed the petitioners to respond to affidavits filed by police officials defending the detentions and adjourned the hearing to November 3.
The court formally received the medical reports of six protesters who were examined at Goa Medical College and Hospital after all seven were released from detention on October 11.
The activists — Afreen Shaikh, Jack Sukhija, Bupesh Bind, Aditya Parulekar, Listan Noronha, Shamino Fernandes and Milind Rane — were taken into custody after police stopped their planned demonstration at Azad Maidan. The protest was part of a wider campaign against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The organisers had sought permission for the gathering on October 7, but the district administration rejected their request on October 9, citing a police report.
Following the detentions, petitions seeking the protesters' immediate release were filed before the High Court, leading to a special late-night hearing on October 11. The bench ordered their immediate release, observing that the detention appeared unauthorised as there were no prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
The court also directed the executive magistrate and police inspectors from Panaji and Pernem to file affidavits explaining the circumstances of the detention.
According to Press Trust of India, the officials defended the police action in their affidavits, saying it was necessary to prevent a law-and-order situation. The police said six detainees were taken to Pernem police station and one to Panaji police station.
The police denied allegations of mistreatment and said medical assistance had been offered. They also said one detainee suffered minor injuries after falling while moving towards the protest stage.
The High Court will next hear the petitions on November 3 after allowing the petitioners to respond to the police affidavits, while the medical reports of six protesters have been placed on record.
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