The Gujarat High Court has issued contempt notices to senior police personnel, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Patan, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) of Chanasma and over 20 other officers and staff, taking strong exception to what it called severe police high-handedness and violation of constitutional rights.
The contempt petition was filed by a victim from the Thakore community who was allegedly subjected to public humiliation and custodial violence following a minor dispute between the Rabari and Thakore communities. It was taken up by a division bench of Justice AY Kogje and Justice Sanjeev Thaker.
The petition
According to the petition, police officers from Chanasma DySP office, Chanasma LCB and Patan SOG, acting with the SP's permission, tied the accused with ropes on March 18, 2026, and paraded them publicly over more than a kilometre, from the Chanasma LCB office to the ST bus stand.
Thirty to 40 police personnel brutally assaulted the unconvicted accused in full public view using wooden sticks, PVC batons and belts, while forcing them to offer a public apology, the petition alleged.
Officers also allegedly stripped the individuals, beat them and recorded videos, according to the plea, which contended that such extra-judicial punishment echoes colonial-era brutality.
Demand for dismissal
The petitioner, represented by senior advocate Anand Yagnik, urged the court to initiate summary contempt proceedings, immediately suspend the SP, DySP and subordinate staff involved, dismiss them from service, and sentence them to six months' imprisonment. The named officers have been directed to appear before the bench on September 21 with the court treating the matter as one of utmost gravity, and joined the Gujarat DGP and the Chief Secretary as informal parties, issuing notices to them as well.