Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 15: The Delhi High Court on Sunday was informed by the Delhi Police that all 10 students and activists reportedly taken into custody from different parts of the national capital on March 13 and 14 have since been released.

In a special weekend hearing, a bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja considered habeas corpus petitions filed by relatives of some of the detainees alleging illegal detention.

Appearing for the police, Additional Standing Counsel Sanjeev Bhandari said the individuals were taken in connection with an investigation following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and confirmed that all had been released.

The bench took note of the submission and issued a notice to the Delhi Police, directing them to file an affidavit within a week explaining the circumstances and legal authority under which the students and activists were detained.

"We are informed that, as far as the missing persons alleged to have been illegally detained, they have since been released. The respondent (Delhi Police) shall file an affidavit explaining the circumstances and the authority of the law by which they were detained within a week from today," the court said.

The High Court also directed the police to preserve CCTV footage from three locations — Dayal Singh College, the North Campus of University of Delhi, and the Jahangirpuri area — from where the individuals were allegedly picked up.

Petitioners’ counsel noted that although most detainees had been released, one student, Rudra Vikram Roy, was still missing. The bench directed the police to ascertain his whereabouts and report back.

The Delhi High Court observed that students required to participate in any investigation must cooperate with authorities.

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on March 27, while the habeas corpus petition concerning the missing individual will be taken up on Monday.