Mumbai, September 15: Pulling up Maharashtra Government for not filing an affidavit in response to a petition alleging illegal detention of a COFEPOSA detenu, the Bombay High Court has asked Principal Home Secretary Medha Gadgil to pay a fine of Rs 5000 from her own pocket for this lapse.
Justice Ajay Khanvilkar and Justice U D Salvi observed that the state cannot behave in a casual manner in matters of alleged illegal detention, particularly in this case as the detenu has been confined to jail for more than six months.
The bench was hearing a petition alleging illegal detention of Pravinchandra Wadecha in a case of foreign currency seizure.
The accused was arrested on April 24 last year after foreign currency was recovered from his possession. He was given bail by a court on May 4, 2009.
–Agencies