Goa Police defends detention of seven CJP members before Supreme Court, cites history of protests without permission

Representative image of a CJP protester holding a placard | Photo credit: Reuters

The Goa Police on Tuesday defended the detention of seven members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during a protest at Azad Maidan in Panaji before the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, citing a history of protests without permission. The court, which ordered their release on Sunday, adjourned the hearing to October 19.

On Sunday evening, a bench of Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar heard a plea filed by advocate Malisa Simoes challenging the detention of Afreen Shaikh, Jack Sukhiji, Bupesh Bind, Aditya Parulekar, Listan Noronha, Shamino Fernandes and Milind Rane. The court took cognizance of the contention that no order was issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) prohibiting any assembly at the Azad Maidan or any part thereof and said that the detention need not have been allowed. It noted that Executive Magistrate Dattaprasad Toráskar, who was on the spot, ordered the police to detain the seven for entering the Azad Maidan.

The bench directed the Panaji police station to release them on the condition that they do not protest that night. The defender of the detainees has committed himself to this purpose, without prejudice to the rights and objections of the detainees. The Bench also directed the State to file an affidavit.

In an affidavit filed on Tuesday through Panaji Police Station Inspector Vijaykumar Chodankar, the police justified the detention. They cited three instances of CJP members organizing protests without permission and alleged that the outfit sponsored Umar Khalid.

The affidavit cited the July 25 protest against the NEET exams, during which Mohammed Zanskar Danish, 30, was found on a dharna at Azad Maidan with a banner reading “Umar Khalid” and “Sharjeel Imam” and a bag reading “Palestine will be free”. The police brought the Danes to the police station for questioning. A number of protesters gathered outside and the police asked them not to disturb or block the road. They also asked them to show permission from the authority to hold a dharna outside the Panaji police headquarters.

On Sunday, the affidavit said, several members of the CJP and others, mostly from outside Goa, gathered at the entrance of Azad Maidan and shouted slogans against the Union government, the state government and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Police said that as per North Goa District Magistrate’s order dated October 9, 2026, protests are not allowed inside Azad Maidan. They added that the CJP protesters had earlier violated the conditions imposed by the authorities. The police made arrangements according to the plan issued by the superiors. When the protesters entered the Azad Maidan, one sustained injuries after falling. The police detained all seven at 4:30 p.m. under Section 172(2) of the BNSS of 2023, saying they did not have a permit to protest.

Police have denied allegations of use of force. They said the protesters were not arrested, so the reasons for the arrests could not be disclosed, and that force was only used to prevent the protesters from taking the law into their own hands. They also said no detainees were injured and denied dragging the protesters into the vehicle. After the affidavits were recorded, the court adjourned the hearing.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 04:20 IST