While quashing a notice issued by the police to the local journalist, the Madras High Court has said that the police cannot summon or question the petitioner in the absence of any case registered against him. Justice Sunder Mohan was hearing a plea of a local journalist, Vimal Chinnappan, who sought to quash the summons issued against him by the police under provisions of the IPC and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. “Section 35(1)(b) does not empower the police to summon or question the petitioner in the absence of any case registered against him. Therefore, this court is inclined to quash the notice,” the court held. Section 35(1)(b) outlines when a police officer can arrest someone without a warrant based on a reasonable complaint, credible information, or suspicion of a cognizable offense punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, provided the officer believes the arrest is necessary for preventing further offenses, ensuring proper investigation, or preventing evidence tampering. Findings It is seen from the notice sent by the police that he has sought responses to …