India, March 29 -- The Bombay high court last week struck down the detention of an individual under provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, on the ground that he was not served with an Urdu version of witness statements recorded in Marathi. The detainee was conversant only in Urdu and the lapse had deprived him of making the earliest effective representation, violating his constitutional rights, the court said.

The accused, Shahabaz Ahmed Mohammad Yusuf @ Commando, was detained on July 30, 2024, following an order passed by the Nashik district magistrate, in connection with nine offences registered at Pawarwadi, Ramjanpura city, Azad Nagar, Malegaon city and Malegaon camp police stations. The offences...