Archive · 18 Aug 2026
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar released after Delhi High Court hearing
A man named Kuldeep Kumar is an MLA, a kind of elected leader, in Delhi.
He was leading a protest because a sanitation worker, someone who collects garbage, was killed while working.
Early in the morning, police officers in plain clothes came and took him away.
His family was scared and worried because they did not know where he was.
They asked the Delhi High Court, a very important court, to help find him.
The court asked the police what happened, and the police said he was being held in something called preventive detention.
Later that day, at 3:48 in the afternoon, he was released.
His lawyer said the officers broke his CCTV cameras and took the video recorder from his house.
The court said the main purpose of the request was achieved because he was now free.
The family can still ask the court for more help if they want to.
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar was taken into preventive detention by police and released at 3:48 pm on Tuesday, police told the Delhi High Court.
His family filed a habeas corpus petition alleging he was picked up by 20-25 plainclothes policemen at his I P Extension residence around 4 am without an arrest warrant.
Kumar had been leading a protest over the murder of sanitation worker Anil, who was allegedly stabbed while collecting garbage in Kalyanpuri on August 16.
His lawyer Shadan Farasat said the plainclothes men destroyed CCTV cameras at his residence and took the DVR; the bench said the petition's purpose was served after his release.
Hundreds of sanitation workers and auto-tipper drivers protested at Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, demanding Rs 1 crore compensation and a permanent government job for a victim's family member.
- Who
- Kuldeep Kumar, an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Kondli; his family and lawyer; Delhi police; and the Delhi High Court
- What
- Kumar was taken into preventive detention and released at 3:48 pm, after his wife filed a habeas corpus petition alleging illegal detention
- When
- Tuesday, August 18; he was picked up around 4 am and released at 3:48 pm
- Where
- Delhi — taken from his I P Extension residence, with the habeas corpus petition heard by the Delhi High Court
- Why
- His family alleged he was detained without a warrant in connection with his protest against the murder of a sanitation worker in his constituency
Family's account
Police account
Legality of the detention
Family's account
The family and counsel called the detention illegal, draconian, and carried out without an arrest warrant or due process of law.
Police account
Police said Kumar was taken into preventive detention, a lawful measure, and informed the court he was released at 3:48 pm.
Reason for the detention
Family's account
Counsel questioned whether leading a protest against the sanitation worker's murder and seeking compensation justified invoking preventive detention.
Police account
Police characterized the action as preventive detention without offering a stated justification in the articles.
- Person detained
- Kuldeep Kumar, AAP MLA from Kondli
- Type of detention
- Preventive detention
- Detention and release timing
- Picked up around 4 am; released at 3:48 pm
- Legal action
- Habeas corpus petition filed by Kumar's wife
- Victim
- Anil, contractual MCD sanitation worker
- Incident
- Allegedly stabbed while collecting garbage in Kalyanpuri on August 16
- Protest demands
- Rs 1 crore compensation and permanent government job for a victim's family member
- Alleged property damage
- CCTV cameras destroyed and DVR taken from I P Extension residence
