Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has quashed the preventive detention of Victor Das under the National Security Act (NSA), paving the way for his release after months in custody despite securing bail in multiple cases.
Das had been detained under the provisions of the NSA, which allowed authorities to keep him behind bars even after courts granted him bail in cases registered at Latasil and Azara police stations in Guwahati.
He was initially arrested in connection with violence that broke out during protests demanding justice for late Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg. Though a lower court granted him bail in the Latasil case, Das was re-arrested within the court premises in connection with a separate case filed at Azara police station. He later secured bail in that case as well, including from the Gauhati High Court in November last year, which imposed conditions such as a security deposit of Rs 30,000, one surety, and mandatory appearance before the investigating officer as required.
However, his detention under the NSA overrode the bail orders, enabling authorities to continue his custody on preventive grounds. The detention order, dated October 7, 2025 (Memo No. CP/CB/NSA/2025/49), was challenged before the High Court through a writ petition [W.P. (Crl.)/76/2025] filed by Das.
The case was first taken up on November 21, 2025, by a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi and Justice Pranjal Das, which issued notice to the Union of India and the State of Assam, among others. Subsequently, on January 21, 2026, a division bench of Justice Kalyan Rai Surana and Justice Anjan Moni Kalita heard the matter as part-heard, directing further submissions and listing it for continuation.
Upon final consideration, the High Court set aside the detention order, effectively nullifying the preventive custody that had kept Das incarcerated despite bail in the underlying criminal cases.
The ruling brings to an end months of legal proceedings during which the state had defended the detention, including before the NSA Advisory Board, which had earlier approved the government’s order.
With the preventive detention quashed, Das is now expected to walk free, subject to compliance with the bail conditions imposed in the criminal cases pending against him.