Manjeri: The Manjeri District Principal Sessions Judge strongly criticised a Sub-Inspector of Police for arresting a youth for possessing just 10 millilitres of Indian-made foreign liquor, despite the Abkari Act permitting possession of up to 3 litres.

The youth, Dhanesh (32) of Painkannur Variyathodi, Tirur, was arrested on October 25 and remanded for a week. While granting him bail, the court made severe remarks against the officer’s conduct.

The court observed that the liquid could have been shaving lotion, as Dhanesh runs a barber shop, and questioned the integrity and intent of the Sub-Inspector, who showed undue interest in arresting a man from a poor background.

Emphasising that such arrests do not happen in a banana republic and has happened in the world’s largest democracy, the court directed senior police officials to examine whether the investigating officer possessed the sensitivity and judgment required for his role.