the constitutional right to be informed of the grounds of arrest under Article 22(1) of the Constitution.

Supreme Court Quashes Illegal Arrest, Upholds Fundamental Rights

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed the constitutional right to be informed of the grounds of arrest under Article 22(1) of the Constitution.

The case, Vihaan Kumar v. State of Haryana, revolved around the appellant’s arrest in a financial fraud case under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B IPC. The Supreme Court quashed the arrest, ruling that:

✔ Failure to inform the accused of arrest grounds violates Article 22(1).
✔ Continued custody after an illegal arrest is unconstitutional under Article 21.
✔ Merely informing a relative does not satisfy the constitutional mandate.
✔ Even filing a chargesheet does not validate an arrest that violates fundamental rights.

The Court also condemned the inhumane treatment of the appellant, who was handcuffed and chained to a hospital bed, and directed the State of Haryana to issue guidelines to prevent such violations in the future.

⚖ This judgment reinforces due process, personal liberty, and protection against arbitrary state action.