Govt seeks time to justify police action during raid on hotels

The Bombay High Court today termed as "shocking" the police crackdown on hotels in suburban Malwani area even as the Maharashtra government sought time from it to justify its action taken against the couples during the raids.
A division bench of justices V M Kanade and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi was hearing a petition filed by Khar resident Sumeer Sabharwal terming the raids as "illegal, intrusive and unconstitutional" and seeking action against the police officials concerned.
The petition sought investigation by an independent agency into the incident and for it to be monitored by the high court.
Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde today sought time to take instructions and justify the police action.

The bench while adjourning the petition to September 3 remarked, "What is happening in Maharashtra? Shocking..."
The court issued notice to all the respondents, including Maharashtra Home Minister, a portfolio currently held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

On August 6, the police had cracked down on hotels and bars in suburban Malwani area and had imposed fine on several couples on charges of indecency.
"The police's raid has infringed upon a citizen's fundamental right to privacy. The raid is illegal, unconstitutional and intrusive," the petition states.
Apart from inquiry and action against the police team that conducted the raid, the petition has sought for proceedings initiated against the couples to be quashed and cancellation of the fine amount.

The petition has also sought compensation for the couples.