MURUGANANDHAM ALIAS MURUGAN Vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, aggrieved by the order of detention dated 27/4/2007 made in No. 187/2007 passed by the first respondent under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982), branding him as a Goonda, filed the above petition seeking to quash the order of detention and to direct the respondents to produce him, now confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chenani, before this Court and set him at liberty.

(2.) ON 7. 4. 2007, one Dhanraj was confronted by the detenu, while he was proceeding to Chindatripet, and at the knife point demanded gold chain and gold ring, and when the said Dhanraj refused to hand over the gold chain and gold ring, the detenu, holding the knife near his neck, snatched the gold chain and gold ring. Petrified, the said Dhanraj raised hue and cry, on hearing which, the public gathered and attempted to catch hold of the detenu. On seeing the public, the detenu picked up biscuit bottles from the nearby betel nut shop and hurled the same on the road, which created terror and panic at the spot. Taking advantage of the said situation, when the detenu attempted to escape, the police with the aid of the public, apprehended him at the spot. On the basis of the complaint given by the said Dhanraj, a case was registered in Crime No. 702 of 2007 under Sections 341, 336, 427, 397 and 506 (2) I. P. C.

(3.) THE first respondent, taking note of the above case as a ground case and finding that there are four adverse cases, having satisfied that there is a compelling necessity to detain the detenu in order to prevent him from indulging in the activities which are prejudicial to the maintenance of public order, ordered his detention dubbing him as a Goonda.