CJP Food Volunteer Moves SC Alleging Illegal Detention

Junaid Malik, a 30-year-old law graduate who managed food and water distribution at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Jantar Mantar protest, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court detailing systematic police harassment, unnumbered vehicle abductions, and coercive intimidation aimed at his family.

Malik, who gained a wide following online while managing logistics at the protest venue, asserts that the actions of law enforcement agencies violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Unmarked Vehicle Interception and Overnight Detention

According to the petition, the incident began on July 24 shortly after Malik left Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi following an anti-rabies vaccination. Within 50 metres of leaving the hospital, an unnumbered white Scorpio vehicle intercepted his autorickshaw.

Four to five police personnel forced Malik and his companion into the SUV, blindfolded them, and commanded them to keep their heads bowed. The vehicle was driven for 30 to 45 minutes to an unrevealed location where officers confiscated their mobile phones and examined their personal contact lists.

The next morning, July 25, a senior police officer interrogated Malik regarding financial sources supporting the Jantar Mantar community kitchen. Following questioning, officers drove the two volunteers to a remote stretch along the Dehradun-Mussoorie road in Uttarakhand—approximately 16 kilometres outside urban limits—and abandoned them there, forcing them to arrange private transport back to New Delhi.

Intimidation of Relatives Across Multiple Districts

The Supreme Court petition details a broader pattern of pressure directed at Malik's family members across Uttar Pradesh:

• Ghaziabad: On July 23, Masuri police station officers summoned Malik's father, Mustafa, questioning him for six hours and demanding comprehensive bank account statements for the entire family.
• Meerut: On July 24, a separate police team raided Malik's sister's residence, detaining her father-in-law and brother-in-law for questioning.
• Family Home: Officers raided Malik's parental residence in Ghaziabad, demanding identification documents and financial disclosures for every household member.

Responding to queries, Masuri Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunil Kumar denied formal detentions, stating that family members were summoned regarding an ongoing complaint investigation and asked to clarify their relationship with Malik. Masuri station officers similarly maintained that individuals were requested to report through local village elders.

Legal Support and Judicial Relief Sought

All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora confirmed that student organizations are providing legal aid to Malik for his Supreme Court petition. The plea requests judicial protection against further police coercion and an accounting of the legal authority under which unmarked vehicles and cross-border abandonments were carried out.

What we can verify

• Junaid Malik filed a petition in the Supreme Court citing Article 21 violations regarding police detention and family interrogation. — The Indian Express; Live Law
• Masuri police confirmed questioning Malik's father but denied holding him in formal custody. — The Indian Express
• Student organizations including AISA have extended legal assistance to support Malik's petition. — Deccan Herald

What remains unverified

• The specific police department or unit operating the unnumbered white Scorpio vehicle involved in the July 24 interception remains [unverified].
• Official police logs documenting the transit and release of Malik in Uttarakhand have not been released publicly.