HC disposes of suit challenging Medha Patkar's arrest

Kolkata, Dec 5 (UNI) The Calcutta High Court today disposed of a suit asking the state government to show reason why social activist Medha Patkar was arrested on Sunday on her way to Singur where the government is acquiring land for the Tata Motors.

The two-judge bench, presided by Justice D P Sengupta, observed that the habeas corpus petition filed for arrest of Ms Patkar did not stand as she had already been freed by the police.

The court also said that Ms Patkar could move the court on her own if she liked, to ask the government why she was not allowed to visit the agitated farmers of Singur, about 30 km from Kolkata, on Sunday.

Appearing on behalf of the government Advocate General Balai Roy said Ms Patkar was neither arrested nor detained by the police but stopped from going to the site as her presence might have fuelled the agitation in the area.

The habeas corpus petition was filed by Mr Sujato Bhadra, an official of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights yesterday. He had said that Ms Patekar and her followers were arrested without showing any reason and alleged that it was violation of a Supreme Court directive.

The Apex court had ruled that police have to show valid reason whenever any arrest was made.

UNI XC PL MSJ VC2022