India, April 19 -- The Bombay High Court (HC) on Wednesday ruled the arrest of a businessman as illegal after he was detained for over 24 hours without being produced before a magistrate, terming the delay a "gross violation" of his fundamental rights. The court ordered his immediate release from judicial custody.

The case involves Kaushik Rameshchandra Thakkar, a real estate businessman accused in a 2023 cheating case. According to the complaint, Thakkar allegedly sold four flats in the Dream Heritage building in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, for Rs.7.67 crore using forged documents, fake signatures, and counterfeit government stamps.

An FIR was registered at Kasarvadavali police station in Thane on July 26, 2024. Thakkar had applied for anticipa...