NEW DELHI: A man has moved the Supreme Court against the demolition of his house and shop in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, allegedly carried out after his 15-year-old son was accused of shouting an anti-India slogan during the India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match. The petitioner claims the action violates the apex court’s ruling against “bulldozer justice.” The Supreme Court is set to hear the plea on Monday.
The match took place in Dubai on February 23, following which an FIR was filed the same night against the boy’s family. The complainant alleged that the teenager had raised anti-India slogans during the game. Kitabullah Hamidulla Khan, a 40-year-old scrap dealer, stated that he, his wife, and their minor son were taken to a police station in Malvan at midnight and detained.
While the boy was released after four to five hours, Khan and his wife remained in custody for two days until they were granted bail on February 25. The judicial magistrate, in the bail order, noted that there was no prima facie evidence to suggest that the alleged act was detrimental to national integration.
Allegations of Political Pressure and Unlawful Demolition
In his petition, Khan alleged that local authorities were pressured into demolishing his property by a local MLA, who mobilized people for the action. The demolition took place on February 24, just a day after the match, in the presence of a large crowd. Authorities justified the move by claiming that his tin-shed shop and house were “illegal structures.”
SC Ruling on Demolitions Cited in Plea
Khan has urged the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against civic authorities, arguing that their actions were arbitrary, illegal, and malicious. He pointed to the court’s November ruling, which stated that demolitions cannot be used as punitive measures against an accused or convict. The ruling also laid down procedures for authorities to follow before demolishing illegal structures, including providing prior notice.
The case now awaits the Supreme Court’s intervention.
