Stop vigilante justice system, says Gujarat HC

Critical of the culture of vigilantism, the Gujarat high court has said that this type of parallel justice system should end and that the vigilantes cannot take the law into their own hands.

Justice Nikhil Kariel disapproved of the vigilantes intercepting vehicles carrying animals and trying to extort money by falsely posing as public servants.

The court was hearing a quashing petition filed by one Naresh Kadyan from Rajkot, against whom the police had filed an FIR for wrongful confinement, extortion, criminal intimidation and falsely personating a public servant.

In June 2020, Anwar John, the owner of The Great Golden Circus, lodged an FIR against Kadyan and Bhavin Patel for intercepting a truck carrying two elephants from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar for their treatment. Patel, with other vigilantes and police personnel, intercepted the truck near Rajkot city, identified himself as a forest officer and demanded Rs 2 lakh to let them transport the elephants.

When John's employees resisted, they were made to talk to Kadyan on the phone. The FIR stated that the demand was raised to Rs 5 lakh and they were told that if they did not pay up, the elephants would be impounded. The police have filed a chargesheet in this case.

During a hearing on Monday, Kadyan's lawyer raised the issue of permission for transporting the elephants and insisted that Kadyan was not present at the scene. Questioning why the vigilantes should take action at all, Justice Kariel said, "This vigilante justice system has to stop. There are law enforcement agencies. They will do their job. If you feel that something is not happening as per the law, approach them. They will take action."

The court has ordered the investigating officer to remain present with relevant documents at the next hearing on April 26.