HYDERABAD: In a relief to MBT worker Zaffer Pehalwan, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday set aside a detention order passed by the Hyderabad city police commissioner for his detention under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Dacoits, Drug Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Land Grabbers Act, 1986.
The bench comprising Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao and Justice Anis allowed a petition moved by Hameeda Begum, wife of the detenue, seeking to declare the detention of her husband illegal.
In May this year, the police commissioner passed the detention order relying on six criminal cases which were registered against Zaffer Pehalwan under various provisions of the IPC. The activities of the detenu fall within the meaning of “Goonda” as defined under Section 2(g) of Act 1 of 1986.
The commissioner informed the court that Zaffer Pehalwan had been habitually engaging in unlawful acts and indulging in murders, attempts to murder, causing hurt to public servants, extortions and criminal intimidation since 2007. The detention order was confirmed by the Advisory Board in August 2015.
The petitioner’s counsel contended that Pehalwan’s detention was illegal. He said the detenue was sent to the prison for political purposes in view of the ensuing elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Earlier, the detenue was associated with the MIM and was also elected corporator on the party ticket. The police have been harassing him ever since he left the MIM and joined the MBT, he alleged.
While setting aside the detention order, the bench ordered the authorities to forthwith release the detenue from the Cherlapally Central prison.