RANJANA DESAI, J.

( 1 ) THIS petitioner ("the detenu" for brevity) is detained under the order of detention dated 17th November, 2005 issued by the commissioner of Police, Brihan Mumbai under the provisions of Maharashtra prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders and Dangerous Persons Act, 1981 ("the said Act" for short) with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. The said order of detention along with the grounds of detention and the material in support thereof was served on the detenu on 22-11-2004.

( 2 ) THE order of detention is based on one C. R. and two in-camera statements. C. R. No. 262 of 2004 is registered at Nagpada police station under section 325 of the Indian Penal Code. The statement of witness "a" is recorded on 25-9-2004 and the statement of witness "b" is recorded on 28-9-2004. On the basis of this material the detaining authority was satisfied that the detenu is a dangerous person as defined under section 2 (b-l) of the said Act. In the grounds of detention he has stated that the detenu has unleashed a reign of terror and has become a perpetual danger to the soc