According to news portal Malaysiakini, the Kuala Lumpur High Court has granted Sanjeevan’s habeas corpus application against his remand.

High Court judge, Mohamad Shariff Abu Samah, ruled that the warrant for Sanjeevan’s detention at the police remand centre (PRC) in Jalan Ipoh was defective as procedures for his detention were not adhered to precisely.

“As there are doubts regarding the order giving rise to several interpretations, the court allows the (habeas corpus) application and orders that Sanjeevan be released from the PRC with immediate effect,” Shariff was quoted as saying.

Outside court, Sanjeevan’s lead counsel, Gobind Singh Deo, said due to outstanding charges in Seremban, his client would be produced at the courts there for bail application.

On July 10, Sanjeevan was detained under Poca, some 18 days after he had been in detention, following his arrest on suspicion of extortion.

The nature of his detention under Poca has been criticised by human rights lawyers, who have argued that there was no need for the anti-crime activist to be detained for 18 days if he was to be arrested under the Act.

Sanjeevan, who has in recent times exposed vice activities in the country, was rearrested for the seventh time since first being detained on June 23 on suspicion of extorting RM25,000 in “protection money” from an illegal gambling syndicate.