Amravati police summoned me at 2 am, kept me for 12 hours without informing me of the grounds, and released me without charge. Is this legal?

Detailed Legal Analysis

The actions of the Amravati police in summoning you at 2 AM and detaining you for 12 hours without informing you of the grounds for your detention can be deemed illegal according to Indian law.

Under Indian law, particularly the Constitution of India, the following points are relevant:

• Right to Personal Liberty: Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. This right cannot be curtailed without due process of law.
• Arrest and Detention: The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) outlines the legal framework for arrest and detention. Sections 50 and 60 of the CrPC specify the rights of arrested persons, including being informed of the grounds of arrest.
• Section 50: It mandates that a person who is arrested must be informed of the grounds for arrest as soon as possible and must be given the right to consult a legal practitioner of their choice.
• Section 57: It states that no person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being produced before the magistrate within 24 hours of such arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate.
• Section 76: This section requires that an arrested individual must be produced before the magistrate within 24 hours, failing which the detention is unlawful.

In your case, the police not only failed to inform you of the grounds of your detention but also kept you in custody for an extended period without any charges being filed against you. This constitutes a violation of your rights under:

• Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty)
• Section 50 (Right to be informed of grounds of arrest)
• Section 57 (Requirement to be produced before Magistrate within 24 hours)

Furthermore, the Supreme Court of India has held in various judgments that arbitrary detention and denial of the right to consult a lawyer are serious violations of constitutional rights. You may consider filing a complaint with the local police authority or pursuing legal action for unlawful detention and violation of your rights, potentially seeking remedies under Article 32 or Article 226 of the Constitution for enforcement of your fundamental rights.