Bombay High Court: The present petition was filed by the detenue’s sister, who sought a writ of habeas corpus for his release from Taloja Central Prison alleging illegal detention despite reports indicating insufficient evidence against him. The Division Bench of Sarang V. Kotwal and Shyam C. Chandak, JJ., while allowing the petition, held that the Investigating Officer failed to fulfil his duty under Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNSS’), which mandates release of an accused when evidence was deficient. The Court emphasised that even the Special Judge ought to have intervened, and since there was no remand order beyond 22-08-2025, the Jail Superintendent had no authority to detain the detenue.
The Court found that there was a failure to perform duty at every stage, which resulted in the detenue’s continued illegal detention in Taloja Central Prison.
Background:
On 27-07-2025, at around 6:25 a.m., officers from Mumbra Police Station, dressed in civil attire, allegedly entered the residence of the detenue and took him into custody without any legal authorisation. He was not shown as formally arrested until 10:38 a.m. the following day, 28-07-2025, in connection with offences under Sections 8(c), 20(b), 22(a), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (‘NDPS Act’). The FIR was registered on the same day. The detenue was produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Thane, at 3:10 p.m. and was remanded to police custody until 01-08-2025. Subsequently, he was presented before the Special Judge under the NDPS Act, who extended police custody until 07-07-2025. On that date, the detenue was remanded to judicial custody until 21-08-2025.
However, no further remand orders were passed after 22-08-2025, and the detenue was not produced before any Court thereafter. Despite this, he continued to be held in Taloja Central Prison. Meanwhile, the investigation concluded with a charge-sheet filed on 02-09-2025, naming only one individual as the accused. On 11-09-2025, the Investigating Officer attempted to submit a report under Section 189 BNSS indicating insufficient evidence against the detenue. The Special Judge read the report but declined to take it on record, stating that since the detenue was no longer an accused, the report was not applicable.
The detenue raised the issue of illegal detention before the Special Judge, but no order was passed. The Judge noted that the detenue could pursue remedies available under law. As a result, the petitioner approached the Court seeking the release of the detenue, who remained in custody without any valid remand order or formal charges against him.
Analysis and Decision:
The Court perused the charge-sheet and observed that, based on secret information received on 27-07-2025, a raid was conducted by the police in accordance with the NDPS Act. At around 01:10 a.m., one individual was apprehended at the designated location and found in possession of one kilogram of Ganja. The Court noted that the FIR recorded the individual naming the detenue as the source of the contraband, which led to his arrest at 10:38 a.m. on 28-07-2025. The charge-sheet included statements from police personnel present during the raid.
Upon examining the investigation report submitted to the Special Judge, the Court noted that the arrested individual had deliberately and falsely implicated the detenue and another person. The Court observed that the investigation revealed insufficient evidence against the detenue, as it was specifically mentioned that the accused had misled the Investigating Officer. The report also recommended the discharge of the detenue under Section 189 of the BNSS.
The Court emphasised that the Investigating Officer had attempted to submit the report, and the State confirmed that no evidence was found against the detenue. Therefore, the provisions of Section 189 of the BNSS, 2023 were applicable. The Court highlighted that the State failed to explain how the detenue continued to be held in Taloja Central Prison without any valid remand order beyond 22-08-2025.
It was opined by the Court that it was a sorry state of affairs because inspite of there being no evidence against the detenue and without any Order of Remand, the detenue was in custody, illegally. The Court observed that there was no sufficient material justifying the forwarding of the detenue to a Magistrate and, in the present case, to the Special Judge. The Court emphasised that it was incumbent on the Investigating Officer to release the detenue on executing a bail bond, with directions to appear before the Magistrate if and when required. The Court further noted that no steps were taken by the Investigating Officer to ensure the detenue’s release, even after concluding that there was no evidence against him.
The Court highlighted that the report indicating lack of evidence was not taken on record by the Special Judge. The Court further noted that the Investigating Officer failed to fulfil his duty under Section 189 BNSS which mandates release when evidence is deficient. The Court emphasised that even the Special Judge ought to have intervened, and since there was no remand order beyond 22-08-2025, the Jail Superintendent had no authority to detain the detenue.
It was observed that the State submitted the Investigating Officer was tendering an unconditional apology. Although the Court had intended to impose costs on both the Investigating Officer and the Jail Superintendent, the petitioner did not press for any such relief and hadsubmitted the IO’s apology may be accepted.
The Court, therefore, accepted the apology tendered by the Investigating Officer. At the same time, the Court passed an order for the immediate release of the detenue, provided he was not required in any other case.
Accordingly, the petition was allowed. The Court directed that the detenue be released forthwith, if not required in any other case. The petition, thus, stood disposed of.
[Afreen Abubakar Tayal v. State of Maharashtra, 2025 SCC OnLine Bom 3207, decided on 17-09-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Petitioner: Manas Gawankar a/w. Shreyas Gawankar
For the Respondents: Sangeeta D. Shinde, APP