Manonmani v. The state rep.by, The Secretary to Government of Tamilnadu
Preventive detention – Habeas Corpus – Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982 (Act 14/1982) – Detention of 'Goonda'
Case brief
What is this about?
HCP No.2581 of 2025, Madras High Court Division Bench (order authored by Sunder Mohan J.; bench of Dr. Anita Sumanth J. and Sunder Mohan J.), decided 27-04-2026. Mother (Manonmani) sought habeas corpus release of her son Sathya @ Bombay Raj (spelt 'Bombey Raj' in the prayer), detained as a 'Goonda' under Section 2(f), Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982, by order Memo No.547/BBCDEFGISSSV/2025 dated 08.08.2025 of the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai. Petition allowed on the sole ground of non-application of mind: detenu had moved no bail application, yet the detaining authority relied on Crl.MP.No.26094 of 2024 (Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai) involving dissimilar facts (accused there had one previous case; detenu had two adverse cases). Detention order quashed; detenu to be released from Central Prison, Puzhal, unless required in connection with any other case. Keywords: habeas corpus; preventive detention; TN PD Act 1982 S.2(f); non-application of mind; bail likelihood; adverse cases; Article 226.