‘Shown in underwear, ropes tied around waist’: cannot humiliate accused, says Calcutta HC

A vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court headed by Justice Joy Sengupta and Justice Smita Das De observed that the police can arrest but cannot humiliate the accused. File | Photo credit: Sushanta Patronobish

Expressing concern over the public display of accused persons with ropes tied around their waists, the Calcutta High Court said on Friday (June 5, 2026) that the state has the power to arrest and prosecute individuals but cannot subject them to humiliation.

“You can arrest them, you can prosecute them, but you cannot humiliate them,” said a Vacation Bench headed by Justice Joy Sengupta and Justice Smita Das De.

There have been several reports of accused persons being paraded in Howrah, Kolkata and other parts of the state not only with ropes but also in vests and underwear. The arrests, mostly of the accused, who faced several extortion charges, came after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state. Most of those subjected to such treatment have multiple allegations against them and are perceived to be close to the Trinamool Congress.

While hearing a suit challenging such conduct by the accused, the court said that the police cannot deliberately defame the accused in the name of custody.

“The police… can act according to law. If found guilty, they can also hang him. But they cannot deliberately defame the accused in the name of arrest,” the court said. After questioning the circumstances under which the police resort to such a practice, the court sought a report from the state. The case will be heard again after four weeks. The government informed the court that the individuals are primarily charged with extortion and are being transported to the scene to reconstruct the crime.

The Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights, in a letter to the West Bengal Human Rights Commission, had earlier highlighted two cases — at Golabari police station on May 24 and Sankrail police station on May 25 — where two accused were paraded in underwear with ropes tied around their waists. On May 24, accused Akash Singh was shown in underwear and a vest before being taken into custody. On May 25, Shamim Ahmed was subjected to similar treatment and forced to walk the streets.

Published – June 6, 2026 0:48 AM IST