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Justice Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Inspector General of Police, Kerala to inform the progress of the investigation in the incident where a Dalit man was handcuffed to the handrail of the Police Station merely for asking for the receipt of a complaint he had preferred before the Police Station.

Appreciating the registration of the cases against the responsible Police Officer, against whom allegations have been made, the Court remarked “finally, after the intervention of this Court, there is some progress.”

However, Justice Ramachandran clarified that this does not speak to the veracity of the case. "Though I cannot speak about the merits of this case now, I want the Inspector General of Police to inform this Court the progress of the investigation of the same, without any further delay,” the Court stated.

In an earlier hearing, the Court had lashed out at the police. The court had found that "at least two Police Officers had treated the petitioner with unimaginable barbarity– handcuffing him to the handrail of the police station and registering multiple cases against him- all because he dared to ask receipt for a complaint which he had preferred before the Police Complaints Authority."

Justice Ramachandran had also remarked that “a police station is a public office, not a terror field". The court had also wondered as to how and why police believed they could do whatever they want and get away with it.

The matter is set to be next heard on 21st December 2021.

Case Title: Rajeev K. v. State of Kerala