Can I be treated as a suspect without being formally charged in Vellore?

Detailed Legal Analysis

The police in Vellore can treat you as a suspect during investigation under the Tamil Nadu Rent Control Act 1960 without formally charging you, as a charge is filed only after completion of investigation. However, the Madras High Court has held that being named as a suspect does not give the police the right to harass, coerce, or detain you without following due process.

You have the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation during interrogation. The police must obtain permission from the court for any coercive action such as arrest or property attachment.

If you are harassed as a suspect, you can approach the Madras High Court for protection and a direction to the police to follow due process. The court has emphasized that suspicion cannot be a substitute for evidence.