HC warns of contempt proceedings against GST officials for illegal detention

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has warned of contempt proceedings against officials of the Central Revenue Department in a habeas corpus case involving alleged illegal detention and obstruction of justice.

In a strongly worded order passed on Tuesday, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar directed the Additional Director General GST to disclose by affidavit the names and designations of officials who allegedly obstructed a court-appointed warrant officer and snatched official papers during the recovery of the detainee.

The case, Barkha Bansal vs. State of UT Chandigarh and Others, was filed on June 5 by Barkha Bansal, who sought the release of her husband from illegal detention. The detainee was allegedly picked up by GST officials at 12:05 pm on June 4, 2025, and held without being produced before a magistrate within the constitutionally mandated 24 hours.

Represented by senior advocate Vinod Ghai, the petitioner alleged that the detention lasted more than 30 hours.

“The detainee was forcibly taken away in a convoy of three cars from the custody of the Warrant Officer, who was performing his official duty, as directed by this Court,” Ghai submitted, referring to video footage annexed with the petition.

The warrant officer, appointed by the court on June 5, entered the Central Revenue Building in Sector 17, Chandigarh, at 6:42 pm with local police assistance. He recorded the detainee’s statement, noted visible injuries, and documented the recovery. However, the court noted that “respondents no. 2 and 3 and other officials of the Department… created obstruction when he, in discharge of his official duty, was recording statement of the detainee. In fact, they also snatched papers from his hand.”

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/hc-gst-officials-illegal-detention-10102566/