JUDGMENT :

N. J. JAMADAR, J.

1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith, and with the consent of the Counsels for the parties, heard finally.

2. The petitioner who has been detained under the provisions of Section 3(2) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders and Dangerous Persons, Video Pirates, Sand Smugglers and Persons engaged in Black-marketing of Essential Commodities Act, 1981 (“the MPDA Act”), by the order dated 24th February, 2021, passed by the Commissioner of Police, Pimpri Chinchwad, has preferred this petition assailing the legality and validity of the said detention order.

3. The background facts leading to this petition can be stated, in brief, as under:

(a) A proposal was initiated to take action against the petitioner under Section 3 of the MPDA Act at the instance of Wakad Police Station, Pune. It was alleged that the criminal activities of the petitioner had created a reign of terror in the locality where the petitioner ordinarily resided. The petitioner became a perpetual danger to the lives and properties of the people residing and carrying out their daily activities and vocation in the jurisdiction of the Chatushr