Jharkhand High Court Questions Detention of Acquitted Woman Amid Rape Allegations

Hazaribagh, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : The Jharkhand High Court took a firm stance on the detention of a woman in Hazaribagh, who was allegedly held illegally despite being acquitted in a criminal case. On Monday, Home Secretary Vandana Dadel appeared in court following directives from the bench, which includes Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Akhil Kumar. They sought a clear legal basis for the woman’s continued detention and demanded a comprehensive response from the state government regarding the entire situation.

During the proceedings, a sealed report from the District Legal Services Authority, Hazaribagh, was submitted by the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA). The report detailed the woman’s allegations that she was raped by Constable Ranjit Mahto and two other police officers. This case is linked to a habeas corpus petition filed by social activist Apurva Vivek, challenging the woman’s detention at the Hazaribagh center.

Advocate Ujjaini Chatterjee, representing the woman, informed the court that she had already been acquitted in a criminal case, raising serious questions about her continued detention. The court inquired about the legal grounds for holding her, especially since she had completed her sentence under the Foreigners Act, which amounted to three years.

The bench also emphasized that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees every individual the right to life and personal liberty, stating that no one can be deprived of their freedom without lawful authority. In a previous hearing, the court had instructed the JHALSA team to interview the woman and record her statement.

Following this, the sealed report was presented on Monday. The Superintendent of Police from Hazaribagh participated via video conference, assuring the court of an ongoing investigation against the accused constable and the safety of the woman. Given the seriousness of the case, the bench scheduled another hearing for Monday afternoon at 2:15 PM to review the state’s response and the available reports, which will guide the court’s next steps.