The Bombay High Court on Thursday annulled the death sentence of Social Democratic Party of India Secretary General Saeed Ahmed Abdul Wahid Chaudhry, stating that people cannot be expelled for protesting against central government policies and raising anti-government slogans.
Judge Madhav Jamdar asked the government, saying: “How can such slogans become a reason for genocide?”
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A single-judge bench of Justice Jamdar commented: “Citizens cannot be made slaves of the central government. The police are not servants of the chief minister or the chief minister. They are public servants. Were these cases registered against him because he belongs to another party? Let him also change his stand and all these cases will end. Trafficking is happening all over the country.”
Questioning the basis of the action taken against Chaudhary, the court emphasized that the country has witnessed several protests recently across the country, including protests against leakage of NEET papers. “Are you going to issue such orders against them too?” she asked, pointing out that the petitioner must switch sides to quash the FIRs registered against him through the government “washing machine”.
Chaudhary approached the HC on March 27, 2026, questioning the order passed on December 3, 2025, ousting him from the city. In his petition, he said that on October 20, 2025, a senior police inspector at the RCF police station submitted a deportation request against him and others, which was reviewed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police. The DCP issued the banishment order on December 3, 2025, ordering him to leave the city within two days for a period of 12 months.
The charges against him included organizing morchas, dharnas and demonstrations against the Centre’s policies since 2019, including protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the NRC and the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The order stated that Chaudhary indulged in sharp anti-government slogans which led to several criminal cases.
He further stated that Chaudhary gave speeches and mobilized people, leading to traffic congestion and unrest, and creating concerns about law and order. As his actions disturbed public peace, an order was issued to expel Chaudhary from Mumbai and its adjoining areas within two days.
In his appeal to the district commissioner (Konkan division) on December 22, Chaudhary stated that being a politician he needed to campaign and shoulder other responsibilities for the candidates shortlisted in the local body elections, which the BMC has fixed for January 15, 2026. The ban order prevented him from entering the city and campaigning for his candidates. He challenged the legality of the order, which was implemented on December 8, and called for its speedy disposal.
During the hearing on Thursday, the court observed that the action taken against Chaudhary was “wrong” and that the order issued was in violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. “Under Articles 14 and 21, citizens not only have the right to express their opinions, but also have the right to live in dignity,” she said, revoking the deportation order.
