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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 11043

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
G.K.Ilanthiraiyan, R.Poornima, JJ
Selvaganesh – Appellant
Versus
Superintendent Of Police – Respondent
H.C.P.(MD)No.187 of 2026



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: M.Mohammed Ibram Saibu
For the Respondents: R.M.Anbunithi, Arunramnath

A Habeas Corpus petition is not maintainable when the alleged detenu is found to be residing elsewhere by their own volition, especially when the petitioner is found to be abusing the court process to harass the person concerned or gain control over their properties.

Headnote:The case involves a petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Habeas Corpus to produce an alleged detenu. The petitioner, who claims to be the adopted son of the detenu, alleged that the detenu was under illegal confinement. Upon production before the court, the detenu stated she was not under illegal detention, was living at a home of her own volition for safety from the petitioner due to property disputes and life threats, and had initiated legal action against the petitioner for forgery. The main issue was whether the detenu was under illegal detention. The Court determined that the detenu had transitioned to the home voluntarily to escape the petitioner's influence and life threats, and that the petitioner had forged documents related to her properties. Finding the petition to be an abuse of process aimed at securing information or control over a person who is not illegally detained, the court established that a Habeas Corpus petition cannot be maintained for such purposes. The petition is dismissed with exemplary costs of Rs. 1,00,000/- to be paid to the Legal Services Authority, with directions issued for police and registration authorities to act on the detenue's complaints against the petitioner.

Table of Content
1. examination of voluntary residence versus illegal detention claims. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. non-maintainability of habeas corpus and imposition of exemplary costs. (Para 4 , 5 , 6 , 7)

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mohammed Ibram Saibu

for M/s.AjmalAssociates

For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi

Additional Public Prosecutor

For detenue : Mr.Arunramnath

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.)

This Habeus Corpus Petition has been filed to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to produce the body or person of the petitioner's mother namely Jeyalakshmi, D/o.Chinnasamy, aged about 72 years the detenu herein before this Court and set her at liberty.

2. The petitioner claims to be the adopted son of the detenue by name Jeyalakshmi who is aged about 72 years who is a spinster daughter of one Chinnasamy. She has lot of property. She was working as Senior Lecturer in District Level Institution. While being so, the petitioner under the relationship of adoption son looted several personal properties of the detenue. Therefore the detenue on her own volition went to Home inorder to save her property and life at the hands of the petitioner herein. At this juncture the petitioner lodged complaint as if the detenue is missing from the house from 08.11.2025 before the second respondent. The second respondent issued CSR No.1 of 2026 to the petitioner. On enquiry the second respondent found that the detenue is in the private home at Theni District. She scared about the character of the petitioner herein since he had already looted several properties of the detenue and also she had life threat at the hands of the petitioner herein. By lodging false complaint the petitioner approached this Court by way of filing Habeus Corpus petition that too by stating allegations against the home/third respondent where the detenue is staying. He also stated that the detenue is under illegal detention at the hands of the third respondent alleging that the third respondent is extracting money from the detenue.

3. The detenue is produced before this Court by the second respondent. The detenue deposed that she is a spinster and had adopted the petitioner as adopted son in the year 2021 without knowing the character of the petitioner herein. Further the detenue has several properties and taking advantage of the facts and circumstances and also the fact that there is no one to look after the detenue the petitioner has forged the signature of the detenue and looted her properties. He also made life threat to her, therefore in order to escape from the hands of the petitioner she went to Home to save her life and now she is under safe custody and she also stated that she is not under illegal detention at the hands of anyone. She further deposed that she has also lodged complaint before the authorities concerned to cancel the documents which were dealt with by the petitioner by forging her signature and also lodged complaint before the concerned police for appropriate action as against the petitioner.

4. In view of the fact that the detenue is not under illegal detention of any one, this Habeus Corpus Petition is not maintainable and liable to be dismissed with exemplary costs.

5. Hence the petition stands dismissed. The petitioner is directed to pay a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- as costs to the Legal Services Authority attached to this Bench within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. Further the concerned jurisdiction District Registrar of the Registration Department is directed to take appropriate action on the complaint lodged by the detenue to cancel the documents which were executed by the petitioner by forging the signature of the detenue forthwith. The jurisdiction police is also directed to take appropriate action by registering First Information Report as against the petitioner and proceed in accordance with law. Further at the request of the detenue the concerned jurisdiction police is also directed to provide adequate p

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