High Court Pulls Up Bellandur Police for Arresting Man Who Reported Suspected Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has strongly criticised the Bellandur police for arresting a man who had approached the authorities with information about suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Bengaluru, terming the action a "complete misuse of the legal process."

Justice M. Nagaprasanna, while hearing a petition filed by Nagendra seeking quashing of the criminal case registered against him, stayed further proceedings in the matter and questioned the conduct of the police as well as the Home Department.

According to the petition, Nagendra lodged a complaint with the Bellandur police at around 11.30 pm on July 22 regarding the alleged presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the city. However, within 15 minutes, a case was registered against him based on a complaint filed by a woman identified as Nazreena, and he was subsequently arrested.

Expressing strong displeasure over the sequence of events, the High Court observed that the action of the police appeared to be an abuse of the legal process. The bench questioned the Home Department over the manner in which the case was handled and asked whether suspected illegal immigrants had become more important than the residents of Bengaluru.

The court also remarked that if there were concerns relating to illegal immigration and national security, the police should investigate the allegations instead of initiating criminal proceedings against the complainant. It further observed that such action could discourage citizens from bringing information of public importance to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

The High Court directed the police to submit an explanation for their actions by August 6 and instructed the authorities to take appropriate legal measures in cases involving illegal immigrants instead of harassing complainants.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Girish Bharadwaj argued that Nagendra had acted in the interest of the nation by providing information to the authorities and that the criminal case against him was unwarranted.

According to the petition, Nagendra had been collecting information on suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and sharing it with government agencies for some time. He claimed that his efforts were aimed at safeguarding national interests. The matter will be taken up for further hearing after the state files its response.