Bhopal Police face probe after allegedly shaving a gangster’s head and parading him publicly. Court flags violation of fundamental and human rights; orders Human Rights Commission investigation.
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BHOPAL: In a case that has stirred strong legal and ethical debates across India, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a probe into the public parading of alleged gangster Zubair Maulana by Bhopal Police.
Zubair, a notorious figure who is alleged to have been involved in over 50 criminal cases against him, was paraded through the streets after his arrest, bald and beardless, triggering accusations of human rights violations and misuse of police power.
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What Has Happened?
Zubair Maulana, arrested after evading law enforcement for six months, was paraded by the police in public on May 9 along with three associates. His head, beard, and moustache had been shaved off. According to the police, Zubair had voluntarily shaved off his hair to disguise himself. However, his family strongly contested this claim.
His wife, Shamim Bano, filed a writ petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, accusing the police of violating Zubair’s fundamental rights under Articles 21, 22, and 25 of the Constitution, which guarantee protection of life and personal liberty, rights of arrested persons, and freedom of religion and expression.
Legal and Human Rights Implications
Justice Vishal Mishra of the Jabalpur Bench took serious note of the incident and directed the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) to investigate and take appropriate action. While the court refrained from commenting on the criminal merits of the case against Zubair, it emphasized that parading an accused in a dehumanising manner raised legitimate constitutional and human rights concerns.
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The court also directed the petitioner to submit a certified copy of the order to the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission to initiate the probe.
Advocate Prashant Chaurasia, appearing for Zubair’s wife, highlighted the excessive conduct of the police. He argued that instead of producing Zubair before a magistrate as per legal procedure, they chose to humiliate him publicly, an act with no legal backing.
Demands Made in the Petition
In the petition filed by Shamim Bano, wife of Zubair Maulana, it was demanded that an FIR be registered against the police officials involved under Sections 133 and 199 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Additionally, the petition called for a departmental inquiry into the incident and urged the court to ensure accountability for the alleged violations of Zubair’s fundamental rights.
Background of Zubair Maulana
Zubair Maulana, the central figure in this controversy, is a notorious criminal from Bhopal with a long history of serious charges, including attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, abetment of suicide, and attacks on police personnel.
At the time of his arrest, police recovered a country-made pistol, four live cartridges, and three knives from his possession.
He had been declared a wanted criminal and was carrying an award of Rs. 30,000 on his head.
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