The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has served a legal notice to top state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Director General of Police, and the Vadodara Police Commissioner, seeking action over allegations of custodial torture and public humiliation of men arrested during Ganesh Visarjan processions in late August.
The notice, sent by MCC convener Mujahid Nafees, refers to incidents that took place on August 26–27 in Panigate, Vadodara, where police allegedly assaulted several men from the Muslim community in custody and then paraded them in public under the pretext of a “reconstruction” exercise.
Media reports on August 27 highlighted the episode, showing visuals of the arrested men being marched through the streets, drawing criticism from rights groups and community leaders.
According to the MCC, no departmental or legal action has been initiated against the officials involved despite widespread coverage of the incident. The organisation argues that the conduct of the police amounts to a violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, and runs contrary to the Supreme Court’s 1997 judgment in D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal. The ruling laid down guidelines to curb custodial abuse and protect detainees from torture.
The legal notice demands that the state immediately activate oversight mechanisms and initiate remedial, disciplinary, punitive, and criminal proceedings against the officers responsible.
“The actions of the police are in grave breach of constitutional protections and Supreme Court directives,” Nafees said in a statement accompanying the notice.
The MCC said it is prepared to pursue further legal proceedings if authorities fail to act. “If the inaction continues, the organisation will be compelled to move the courts,” Nafees added.
Police and state government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Incidents of custodial violence and public humiliation have been repeatedly flagged by rights activists in India, who argue that such practices erode public trust in law enforcement.
In recent years, the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission have issued repeated reminders to police forces across states to adhere to established guidelines on arrests and detention.
The MCC, a Gujarat-based advocacy group, works on issues concerning minority rights and has previously raised concerns about policing practices in the state.
