Pathma v. The Principal Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated: 25.02.2026 Coram:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN --- Pathma .. Petitioner Vs.
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009
2. The Commissioner of Police Tambaram City
3. The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Puzhal Chennai
4. The Inspector of Police Prohibition Enforcement Wing Guduvanchery .. Respondents Prayer: Habeas Corpus Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, call for records in connection with the order of detention passed by the second respondent dated 31.07.2025 in BBCDEFGISSSV No.86/2025 against the petitioner's husband namely R.Manabhanjan Padhi, male aged 47 years S/o.Ramabhallabha, who is confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai and set aside the 1 / 5
same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Court and set him at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Senthilvel For Respondents : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.M.Sylvester John
ORDER
(The Order of the Court was made by P.Velmurugan, J) This Habeas Corpus Petition has been filed to set aside the order of detention passed by the second respondent dated 31.07.2025 in BBCDEFGISSSV No.86/2025 against the petitioner's husband namely R.Manabhanjan Padhi, male aged 47 years S/o.Ramabhallabha, who is confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Court and set him at liberty.
2. Though the learned counsel for the petitioner took several grounds to quash the impugned order of detention, he focused mainly on the ground that the details of the similar case relied on by the detaining authority were not furnished to the detenu. Further, the copy of the FIR furnished in the booklet is an extraneous material and the same is not related to the case of the detenu.
3. A perusal of records shows that the details of the similar case relied on by the detaining authority were not furnished to the detenu and that the copy of FIR furnished 2 / 5
in the booklet is an extraneous material. Therefore, this Court is inclined to quash the detention order.
4. Accordingly, the order of detention passed by the second respondent dated 31.07.2025 in BBCDEFGISSSV No.86/2025 against the detenu R.Manabhanjan Padhi, S/o.Ramabhallabha, aged 47 years, is hereby quashed.
5. The detenu namely R.Manabhanjan Padhi, S/o.Ramabhallabha, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless he is required in connection with any other case.
6. With the above direction, this Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. (P.V., J) (M.J.R., J) 25.02.2026 ksa-2 3 / 5
To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009
2. The Commissioner of Police Tambaram City
3. The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Puzhal Chennai
4. The Inspector of Police Prohibition Enforcement Wing Guduvanchery
5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
4 / 5
P.VELMURUGAN, J and M.JOTHIRAMAN, J ksa-2 25.02.2026 5 / 5