Detention of student-activists: Delhi High Court orders preservation of CCTV footage

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police to preserve the CCTV footage of the Special Cell premises in connection with the recent detention of several student activists in the national capital.

A Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja passed the order after hearing the plea filed in regard to the detention of one students, Rudra.

The police had on Sunday claimed that it had released all detained persons but this statement was contested by Rudra's family. The Court had then asked the police to trace him.

Today, the Court was told that Rudra was released only after the High Court heard the matter on Sunday.

The Court then proceeded to issue notice on the habeas corpus petition and said that the matter will be heard on March 27 along with the petitions filed by the kin of other activists.

It further directed that the CCTV footage of the police station must be preserved and produced before the Court in future, if directed.

However, the Court declined to set up a medical board to examine the injuries allegedly caused to Rudra in custody. Rudra's counsel alleged that he was tortured by the police, stating there are injury marks on his hands, face and private parts.

On Sunday, the Court had directed the police to preserve the CCTV footage of the locations from where the students were allegedly picked up.

Today, Additional Standing Counsel Sanjeev Bhandari said the accused persons had failed to appear before the police despite yesterday's court order.

However, the Court remarked that it did not know about the specifics of the police investigation.

"All we are saying is that there is a procedure and you must follow it," the Bench said.