Bombay High Court Orders Compensation for Wrongly Accused Man, Cites Overcrowded Jails
Last Updated on October 20, 2024 by Athi Venkatesh
The Bombay High Court granted bail to a man wrongly accused of attempted murder and ordered Rs 4,20,000 as compensation from the complainant. Justice Sanjay Mehare, presiding at the Aurangabad bench, made this ruling, emphasizing the painful conditions in overcrowded Indian jails. The petitioner, a laborer, had been imprisoned since February 2024, after the complainant falsely identified him as an assailant.
The court observed that the complainant’s false accusations led to the petitioner’s wrongful arrest and detention for nearly six months. Justice Mehare expressed concern over the condition of Indian jails, pointing out that inmates often suffer from overcrowding, lack of basic facilities, and contagious diseases. He highlighted that the petitioner’s fundamental right to liberty was unjustly curtailed.
The complainant had initially made serious allegations in the FIR but later withdrew them. The court criticized the complainant’s actions, stating that no citizen has the right to manipulate the justice system based on false claims. Justice Mehare stressed that the petitioner’s wrongful imprisonment caused significant financial and personal losses.
Although liberty cannot be fully compensated with money, the court followed the general practice of monetary compensation. The judge noted that the petitioner, being a laborer, likely earned around Rs 20,000 per month. Since the complainant is a businessman, the court presumed he had a sufficient income to cover the damages. As a result, the court awarded Rs 3,00,000 for curtailing the petitioner’s liberty and Rs 1,20,000 for loss of income.
With these observations, the court granted bail and called for serious action against those who misuse the legal system.
