Malvan, Maharashtra | The arrest of a 15-year-old boy and his father in Malvan, Maharashtra, has triggered widespread outrage. They were detained based on an unverified complaint of raising “anti-India slogans” during the India-Pakistan cricket match on February 23. Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale has urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance, calling it a grave violation of fundamental rights.
The complaint, filed at Malvan Police Station, was based solely on a statement from a private complainant linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The complainant claimed to have overheard the slogans outside the family’s house but provided no proof. Despite this, the police arrested the minor and his father, drawing severe criticism from civil rights groups.
Though they were granted bail, their ordeal worsened. Malvan municipal authorities, allegedly under political pressure, demolished their house and the father’s scrap shop without prior notice. The demolition is seen as an act of state vendetta and a violation of their constitutional rights.
Saket Gokhale, in his letter to the Chief Justice, called the incident “state-sponsored persecution” and condemned the communal targeting of the minor. He also highlighted that local lawyers refused to represent the accused due to pressure from right-wing groups.
“This case shows how fundamental rights have been trampled by state authorities. The Hon’ble Supreme Court must intervene to uphold justice and the rule of law,” Gokhale wrote.
The incident has sparked criticism from human rights organizations and opposition parties. They accuse the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) government of communal vendetta and unlawful actions. Activists demand immediate judicial intervention to protect the minor and his family.
