Panaji: The Bombay High Court on Monday took on record the medical reports of six out of seven Cockroach Janta Party protesters who were detained by the Goa Police during a demonstration demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The court is currently hearing petitions that challenge the legality of the detentions carried out at Azad Maidan on October 11. A division bench comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar permitted the petitioners to file responses to the affidavits submitted by police officials who defended the actions, and subsequently adjourned the proceedings to November 3.
The judicial panel formally received the medical records for six of the activists following their examination at the Goa Medical College and Hospital. All seven individuals had been released from custody later that same day.
The group of activists—comprising Afreen Shaikh, Jack Sukhija, Bupesh Bind, Aditya Parulekar, Listan Noronha, Shamino Fernandes, and Milind Rane—was taken into custody after law enforcement blocked their intended demonstration at Azad Maidan. The gathering was organized as part of an ongoing opposition campaign directed against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Organizers had originally applied for permission on October 7, but the district administration denied the request on October 9 based on a local police report.
In response to the detentions, legal petitions were filed seeking the immediate freedom of the protesters, prompting a special late-night court session on October 11. During that emergency hearing, the bench ordered the immediate release of the activists after observing that the police action appeared unauthorized due to the absence of active prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The court further instructed the executive magistrate alongside police inspectors representing Panaji and Pernem to submit explanatory affidavits detailing the context of the detentions.
In their submitted affidavits, the police officials defended the intervention, arguing it was a necessary measure to forestall potential disruptions to public order. Authorities noted that six of the detainees were transferred to the Pernem police station while the seventh was taken to the Panaji station.
Law enforcement officials refuted claims of mistreatment, asserting that medical aid was made available to the group and explaining that one participant sustained minor injuries due to a fall while approaching the protest stage.
The High Court will resume its consideration of the petitions on November 3, giving the petitioners an opportunity to reply to the police affidavits now that the medical documentation for six of the protesters has been officially filed.