Kerala High Court sets aside KAAPA detention of Thiruvananthapuram councillor R Sugathan; illegible and missing pages cited
6 October 2026
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna S, allowed the habeas corpus petition filed by the wife of R Sugathan, councillor of Ward 20 of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
He had been detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 (KAAPA) on an order of 8 June 2026, which relied on seven criminal cases registered between 2019 and 2026.
The Bench found that several pages supplied to him were illegible and some were missing.
It also held that the government did not consider his representation independently while awaiting the Advisory Board's opinion, which went against Article 22(5) of the Constitution.
The detention order was set aside and release from Viyyur Jail was directed unless he is required in another case.
In plain words
KAAPA Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 — State law allowing preventive detention of repeat offenders.
Habeas corpus Writ to produce a detained person — A writ used to test whether a detention is lawful.
Advisory Board Board reviewing preventive detention — A panel that gives its opinion on whether detention has sufficient cause.