Chennai: Calling the detention of a private builder under the Goondas Act ‘draconian’, the Madras high court has directed former Chennai city commissioner of police, A Arun, to appear in person next week during the hearing of a habeas corpus case challenging the detention. A division bench comprising Justices G R Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan on Wednesday issued the direction while hearing an interim plea moved by Kalpana Sharma, wife of detained builder Santosh Sharma. In her petition, Kalpana Sharma sought four weeks’ leave for her husband, stating that their daughter Varsha Sharma had been hospitalised and required parental care. During the hearing, judges inquired as to who passed the detention order. After learning the order was issued by the then commissioner of police, Arun, the bench directed him to appear before the court and adjourned the matter. Court records reveal that Santosh Sharma entered into an agreement to construct 234 apartment units on a 2-acre and 10-cent property owned by Poornajothi, wife of L K Sudheesh, at Ramadoss Nagar. 78 apartments were to be allotted to Sudheesh and Poornajothi. However, a complaint was subsequently lodged alleging that the flats earmarked for the couple were sold for 43 crore using forged signatures. Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested Santosh Sharma. Though he was later released on bail, he was again arrested in 2025 on allegations that apartment buyers were cheated as the promised flats were not handed over. Following the fresh allegations, the Chennai city police invoked the Goondas Act against him on Sept 22, 2025. The main habeas corpus petition is scheduled for final hearing in June.
