India, Oct. 20 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to respond to allegations that police illegally detained protesters, passers-by and other citizens during demonstrations across Mumbai on October 10 and 11 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged election malpractices.

More than 600 people were detained on October 10 and over 300 on October 11, including actors, social activists, senior citizens and students, according to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate and activist Sagar Kantilal Devre. Several detainees alleged that they were harassed by the police.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethn...