Human Rights Commission seeks action against police for wrongly booking elderly woman

Palakkad: The Human Rights Commission has directed action to be taken against police officers in the case where an elderly woman was mistakenly brought to court, thinking she was an accused who had jumped bail. Commission Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the directive to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department. The order came in a suo motu case registered based on newspaper reports.

The incident dates back to August 16, 1998. A woman named Bharathi was arrested in a case alleging that she verbally abused her employer and damaged household items after she was dismissed from work. In that case, registered by Palakkad Town South Police, the court granted bail, after which the accused absconded.

Acting on the instructions of senior officers, the CPO of Palakkad Town South Police tried to arrest 80-year-old M Bharathi (also known as Parvathi), a resident of Vadakethara, Alathur, on September 24, 2019, mistaking her for the real accused. She was produced before the court the next day, where bail was granted. Later, after the complainant Rajagopalan of Vijelpuram Colony, Thirunellayi, withdrew his complaint, M Bharathi was acquitted. Over the next four years, she had to appear in court eight times.

The District Police Chief informed the Commission that such a mistake would not have occurred if the officers of Palakkad Town Police Station had properly verified the address of the real accused. An inquiry has been ordered against the officers. Since two of the officers have retired, a report has been submitted to the government recommending disciplinary action against them.

M Bharathi and her brother Kochukrishnan told the Commission that due to old age and illness she was unable to travel, and therefore, she does not wish to claim any compensation.