A food volunteer associated with the recent Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led student protests in Delhi has approached the Supreme Court, alleging that he was illegally detained by police, harassed over his role in supplying food to protesters, and that his family members were subjected to coercive police action without following due process.
Junaid Malik filed an application before the Supreme Court alleging that police officials illegally detained him on the night of July 24 and later targeted his family in Uttar Pradesh. The plea has been filed in the pending writ petition moved by RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha seeking action over alleged police violence during the CJP protests.
According to the petition, Malik was returning from Delhi’s RML Hospital after receiving an anti-rabies injection around midnight when he was allegedly picked up by Delhi Police personnel.
Malik claimed he was kept inside a police vehicle for nearly five to six hours, during which he was threatened and intimidated. He alleged that police forcibly took his mobile phone, made him unlock it, and searched its contents.
The petition states that officers repeatedly questioned him about the food arrangements for protesters, asking who was funding him and where the money for food supplies was coming from.
After several hours, Malik alleged that he was abandoned at a remote location on the Dehradun Road. According to the plea, he eventually reached Dehradun and returned to Delhi by hiring a cab.
Family Allegedly Detained During Police Raids
The petition further alleges that the Ghaziabad Police detained Malik’s father and conducted a raid at the family’s residence. During the search, several household items were allegedly damaged.
Malik also claimed that police officials visited the Meerut home of his married sister and took away her father-in-law and brother-in-law for questioning. According to the petition, both family members were later released.
The plea alleges that all these actions were carried out without any formal paperwork, arrest memo, or compliance with the procedure established under law.
Seeks Protection From Supreme Court
Malik has asked the Supreme Court to restrain the police from taking any further coercive action against him or his family members.
He has also requested directions ensuring that any investigation against him is conducted strictly in accordance with the law and established legal procedures.
The petition argues that the alleged detention, search of his phone, questioning over food supplies, and police action against his relatives violated his legal and constitutional rights. The Supreme Court is expected to consider the application as part of the ongoing proceedings relating to allegations of police excesses during the CJP-led student protests in Delhi.
