Court Directs Police to Provide Protection to 72-Year-Old Woman Alleging Property Looting by Adopted Son
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court, Madurai Bench, dismissed a Habeas Corpus petition filed by S. Selvaganesh, the adopted son of a 72-year-old woman named Jeyalakshmi, who claimed she was under illegal detention. The court found that the elderly woman was voluntarily residing in a private home to protect herself from her adopted son, whom she accused of looting her property and posing a life threat.
The division bench, comprising Justices G.K. Ilanthiraiyan and R. Poornima, heard the case where Jeyalakshmi, a former Senior Lecturer, testified that she had willingly taken refuge in a private home after discovering the alleged fraudulent activities of Selvaganesh. The petitioner had filed the Habeas Corpus petition, alleging illegal detention of Jeyalakshmi by a third party, which the court found baseless as the detenue confirmed her voluntary stay.
During the proceedings, Jeyalakshmi accused her adopted son of forging her signature to unlawfully acquire her properties. In her deposition, she clarified that she had adopted Selvaganesh in 2021 without knowledge of his character and later faced threats to her life and property from him. Consequently, she had lodged complaints with the authorities to annul the forged documents and sought police action against him.
Considering these facts, the court dismissed the Habeas Corpus petition as not maintainable, directing Selvaganesh to pay Rs. 1,00,000 as exemplary costs to the Legal Services Authority. Furthermore, the court instructed the District Registrar to take prompt action on Jeyalakshmi's complaint to cancel the forged documents.
In addition, the jurisdictional police were ordered to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Selvaganesh and ensure adequate police protection for Jeyalakshmi. The case is scheduled for a compliance report on June 2, 2026.
Bottom Line:
Habeas Corpus petition dismissed as detenue voluntarily staying in a private home to protect herself from petitioner, who allegedly looted her property and posed a life threat. Directed petitioner to pay exemplary costs and authorities to take necessary actions against the petitioner for alleged forgery and provide police protection to the detenue.
Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India, Sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
S.Selvaganesh v. Superintendent of Police, (Madras)(DB)(Madurai Bench) : Law Finder Doc id # 2871188
