Overview
- The court issued notice to Thane police to respond to claims he was not informed of the arrest grounds and that the FIR and formal arrest came hours after initial detention.
- Judges declined immediate relief, holding a habeas corpus plea was not maintainable after a remand order, and permitted an amended petition challenging the arrest’s legality.
- The bench said the trial court should decide his bail application on its own merits, independent of the pending writ petition.
- James Leonard Watson remains in judicial custody until October 17 under provisions of the Aghori Practices law, the Juvenile Justice Act and immigration statutes.
- Police cite preaching, anti-Hindu remarks and visa misuse in the FIR, while his petition says he was invited to a private prayer and that a politically motivated complainant filmed and shared a video.