Those who looted crores enjoying, why detain saree thief, asks SC

People looting crores of rupees are “enjoying life”, but a man is in jail for stealing five sarees, the Supreme Court said on Monday, as it pulled up the Telangana government for keeping him under preventive custody.

“A person who has taken away crores of rupees is enjoying his life. But here a person took five sarees and he is in jail,” a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said.
The apex court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 8.

During the hearing, the counsel representing the state argued that the arrest was made after many traders in Hyderabad had complained about a gang of saree thieves operating there, which had prompted the police to arrest him.

Earlier, the government had defended its move detaining Eliah from March 2016 under a preventive detention law called the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Dacoits, Drug Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Land Grabbers Act.