MP High Court Grants Relief to Advocate Anil Mishra, Criticizes Police for Illegal Arrest

Gwalior: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted significant relief to advocate Anil Mishra, who was arrested on charges of burning a poster of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The court declared his arrest illegal, noting that the police could have simply issued him a notice instead of taking him into custody. Several procedural lapses were identified in the FIR registration and arrest process.

Following the court’s order, Mishra was released on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh and a bail amount of ₹1 lakh. The High Court’s decision has raised hopes that other individuals arrested in connection with the case may also secure bail from lower courts. Legal steps are also being planned to have the FIR quashed.

Background of the Case
Anil Mishra was arrested on the night of January 1 for allegedly burning a poster of Dr. Ambedkar. The Gwalior Cyber Police registered an FIR in the case, naming a total of eight individuals as accused.

Court Imposes Restrictions on Gatherings
The High Court’s order also imposed restrictions on rallies and other related activities linked to the case. Mishra, along with three associates, was released from the central jail around 8 PM on Wednesday. A large number of his supporters and fellow lawyers were present outside the jail, though Mishra refrained from speaking to the media and left directly with his associates.

Public Protests in Gwalior
The arrest had sparked widespread protests in Gwalior on January 2. Dalit organizations, including the Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party, staged a sit-in at the collectorate for over two and a half hours, demanding the application of the National Security Act (NSA) against Mishra and calling the FIR inadequate.

Long Court Proceedings
The High Court conducted an extensive hearing on Monday, from 10:30 AM to 5 PM, listening to arguments from the petitioner, the victims, and the state government. The court expressed displeasure at the conduct of the police and other parties involved. A special bench had also been formed on Sunday to hear the matter. During the proceedings, Justice Ahluwalia emphasized the right of victims in SC/ST Act cases to be fully informed about related petitions.