Bombay High Court directs husband and father‑in‑law to produce two daughters after mother’s habeas corpus filing

Bombay High Court on Thursday, November 5, 2026, ordered a man and his father to bring two young girls before the bench after their mother filed a habeas corpus petition. The two‑judge panel, comprising Justice Sarang V. Kotwal and Justice Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale, instructed the Navghar police to serve notice on the respondents and set a production time of 3 p.m. on Friday, November 6.

What Happened

Mansi Sharad Bansode, a resident of Wadala, lodged the petition on November 3 under Article 226 of the Constitution, alleging that on November 1 her husband and father‑in‑law, both intoxicated, assaulted her at their home in Bhayander East and forced her out, keeping custody of their two daughters – a seven‑year‑old and a one‑year‑old named Dishika, who was born on October 6, 2025 and is still breastfeeding.

Legal Action

The court also issued notices to the State of Maharashtra and to Harshad Madye and Pramod Madye, directing them to appear on November 6. The petition highlighted that the police at Navghar station did not lodge a formal complaint when Bansode sought help, but merely advised her to approach the court. Her writ seeks the immediate return of the children and the documents, including birth certificates, currently held by the respondents.

Context

Habeas corpus petitions under Article 226 are a common recourse when a person believes a relative is unlawfully detaining a family member. The court’s swift scheduling reflects the urgency attached to cases involving minors and alleged domestic violence.