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High Court Cracks Whip: '' Police Delays Can't Defy Release Orders
In a stern rebuke to police foot-dragging, the ordered the immediate release of a seized luxury vehicle, slamming the state's attempt to stall compliance by citing a proposed challenge as a "ploy in ." Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary, hearing , directed Paras Rana and in-charge Deepika Prasad to free the Mercedes (JH01FW 0020) by , amid a contempt application.
From Minor Fender-Bender to Courtroom Clash
The saga began with a routine motor vehicle mishap on
, in Ranchi's crowded Doranda area during rush hour—described by the court as a spot where vehicles
"move at a snail pace,"
with no reported injuries. This sparked
Case No. 51 of 2026 and a counter-case. Petitioner's vehicle was seized, but
, ordered its release on
via a competent ruling.
Tensions escalated when police ignored the trial court's directive. On , the High Court reiterated the release order in IA No. 3028 of 2026, pronounced in Rana's presence, and mandated communication to . Yet, when petitioner Tandon and advocates arrived with the order, in-charge Prasad refused compliance—prompting Writ Petition (Cr) No. 4238 of 2026 and fresh IA No. 3287 for contempt.
A coordinate bench had stayed investigation on (overturned by on ), but this didn't justify holding the vehicle sans stay on the release order.
Petitioner's Firepower vs. State's Stalling Script
Petitioner's counsel, led by and a team of advocates, hammered on "." They detailed handing the order directly to Prasad, yet the vehicle remained impounded—suggesting "." Demanding contempt under and , they urged initiation against Rana and Prasad.
The state, represented by AAGs , , and , countered with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the order, promising urgent mentioning before the at 1 PM. They sought time for chip-based speed analysis and photos of "tainted parts," blaming the brief investigation stay. But when urgent listing failed, senior counsel conceded release by 4:30 PM on instructions.
Media reports echoed this, noting the court's frustration as Holi holidays loomed, turning the SLP into a suspected delay tactic.
Court's Razor-Sharp Reasoning: No Stay Means No Excuse
Justice Choudhary dissected the irony: a "minor motor vehicle accident" ballooned into repeated defiance, despite no stay on trial or High Court orders. Crucially,
"
,"
he ruled, piercing the state's shield. The timing—pre-holidays adjournment plea—reeked of strategy to "circumvent" judicial mandates.
No precedents were directly cited, but the ruling reinforces bedrock principles: courts of competent jurisdiction must be obeyed unless expressly stayed, shielding against executive overreach in seizures.
Key Observations from the Bench
"Seeking adjournment today only on the ground that a special leave petition has been filed before Hon’ble against the order of release of vehicle, when the Court is to close for Holi holidays i.e. about 10 days, is apparently in to stall the release of the vehicle and is nothing but a ploy to circumvent the order passed by the trial court as well as by this court." (Para 15)
"What is the supreme irony of the matter is that this Court is dealing with the matter of release of vehicle seized on 17.02.2026 in a minor motor vehicle accident in a crowded area of Ranchi wherein rush hour at 10 O’clock, the vehicles move at a snail pace. No one was said to be even injured in the accident..." (Para 18)
"Refusal to release is suggestive of against the Petitioner." (Para 19)
Gavel Falls: Release Now, Contempt on Hold
The court mandated immediate release by 4:30 PM February 27 , conditional on petitioner's bond for future investigation availability—no tampering allowed. and Doranda in-charge personally undertook compliance; appeared via video. Contempt IA adjourned, but a copy went to for oversight.
This sets a precedent for swift vehicle releases in low-stakes cases, curbing police leverage post-seizure. It warns against "" maneuvers, bolstering judicial enforcement amid rising contempt concerns—vital as states test boundaries pre-appeals.
