Ranchi: Noted economist Jean Dreze was taken into "preventive custody" on Thursday. The economist was detained and interrogated earlier today on charges of holding an event without permission in Garwa.


Dreze was later released by the police.


A senior police officer told media that the Belgian-born economist, now an Indian citizen, was addressing a meeting in Garhwa district in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

"Dreze was taken into preventive custody for addressing a meeting at Bishanpura in Garwha district, about which the local administration had no information," he said.

(agency inputs)