Kannur: The Kerala High Court has strongly criticised the state government and police for the wrongful arrest and 54-day incarceration of an innocent man in a 2018 chain-snatching case, ordering the government to pay ₹14 lakh as compensation to the victim, VK Tajuddin. The court held that the police acted in haste, relied on flawed investigation methods, and violated the fundamental rights of a citizen.
The case dates back to July 2018, when Tajuddin, who was based in Qatar and ran a rent-a-car business there, had returned to Kerala on a short leave to attend his daughter’s wedding. A few days after the wedding, police picked him up late at night while he was returning home with his family, suspecting him to be involved in a chain-snatching incident reported in the area.
According to media reports, the police identified Tajuddin as a suspect based primarily on a grainy CCTV image that showed a bearded man riding a white scooter. Despite the poor quality of the footage and the absence of scientific verification, police treated the perceived resemblance as sufficient grounds for arrest. His wife was also asked, under stressful circumstances at night, to identify the person in the footage, a statement that was later used against him.
Media reports further stated that Tajuddin had a clear alibi. At the time of the alleged crime, he was reportedly at a beauty parlour with his wife and children, a fact later confirmed during court proceedings. Another witness also stated that the person seen in the CCTV footage was not Tajuddin. However, these crucial pieces of evidence were allegedly ignored as the police were keen to close the case quickly.
The court noted that no stolen gold chain was recovered from Tajuddin, nor was the vehicle allegedly used in the crime traced to him. Despite this, he was remanded to judicial custody and spent 54 days in jail before securing bail. He also alleged custodial torture and said he was not allowed free interaction with his family during detention, claims that the police later denied in court.
The case took a decisive turn when the actual offender was arrested later, clearly establishing that Tajuddin had no connection with the crime.
In a detailed judgment, Justice P.M. Manoj observed that arresting a person solely on suspicion and unverified CCTV footage amounted to a grave violation of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court held that Thajudheen’s unlawful detention caused irreparable damage to his dignity, reputation and livelihood, forcing him to lose his employment and business opportunities abroad.
Taking note of the human and social cost suffered by the family, the High Court directed the state government to pay ₹14 lakh as compensation, including ₹1 lakh each for Thajudheen’s wife and three children. The court also clarified that the government was free to recover the compensation amount from the erring police officials in accordance with law and that the family could pursue civil action against those responsible.
Legal experts and human rights activists have described the verdict as a significant reminder against blind reliance on surveillance tools such as CCTV footage without proper verification. They said the judgment sends a clear message that technology cannot override due process, and that law enforcement agencies must ensure accountability while using modern surveillance systems to avoid grave miscarriages of justice.