Vadodara: The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has issued a legal notice to senior state officials over allegations of custodial torture and public humiliation of Muslim men in Vadodara. The notice has been served to the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Director General of Police, and the Vadodara Police Commissioner.
The allegations stem from incidents on August 26 and 27 in Panigate, Vadodara, during Ganesh Visarjan processions. According to the MCC, police detained several Muslim men, assaulted them in custody, and later paraded them in public under the pretext of a “reconstruction” exercise. Media visuals of the men being marched through the streets sparked widespread criticism from rights groups and community leaders.
MCC convener Mujahid Nafees said no departmental or legal action has been taken against the officers involved, despite extensive media coverage. The organisation stated that the police conduct violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and liberty, and disregards the Supreme Court’s 1997 judgment in D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal, which outlined safeguards against custodial abuse.
The legal notice demands oversight mechanisms be activated and calls for disciplinary, punitive, and criminal proceedings against responsible officials. Nafees warned that if authorities fail to act, the MCC will pursue the matter in court.
Custodial violence has been repeatedly flagged by rights groups in India. Both the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission have urged police forces to follow legal guidelines on detention and arrest.
