How Dravidian Model Police Destroyed A Man’s Marriage And Livelihood

On 11 September 2025, the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) ordered a penalty of ₹1 lakh to be imposed on a sub-inspector and a constable for unlawfully detaining and physically assaulting a man from Donavur in 2018. The commission found that the victim, Joseph Selvakumar, had been wrongfully accused and mistreated by police officers despite having secured anticipatory bail in a separate case.

The officers, Sub-Inspector Immanuel and Constable Muthukumar, were attached to the Eruvadi police station at the time of the incident. SHRC member V. Kannadasan ruled that Selvakumar had successfully proved the allegations of police abuse both physical and psychological through the evidence presented and arguments made during the proceedings.

Selvakumar, who had been working in Saudi Arabia, had returned to his hometown in 2018 to get married. During the wedding preparations, a dispute erupted between painter Nelson hired by Selvakumar’s family and their neighbour, Jeba Thai. Following a complaint from the neighbour, Eruvadi police registered a case against both Nelson and Selvakumar. With his wedding approaching, Selvakumar obtained anticipatory bail from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which required him to report to the police station daily.

According to the SHRC’s findings, Selvakumar was slapped by the constable on 24 August 2018, while reporting at the station. The officer reportedly questioned how he had dared to get anticipatory bail. The next day, both officers mocked his recent marriage. When Selvakumar attempted to record their conduct using his phone, they forcibly took the device and severely beat him with batons. They later arrested him based on a complaint from Anbarasi, the daughter-in-law of Jeba Thai, even though he was still within the station premises.

The commission noted inconsistencies in the complaint, including the misnaming of Anbarasi as Kalaiyarasi in the remand report and contradictions in her affidavit during cross-examination. Additionally, the police failed to submit CCTV footage as evidence, further weakening their case.

Given the gravity of the misconduct, the SHRC directed the state government to compensate Selvakumar with ₹1 lakh, to be recovered equally from the two accused officers (₹50,000 each). It also recommended disciplinary proceedings against both.

The incident had far-reaching consequences for Selvakumar. His wife left him after the episode, and he lost his overseas job because he couldn’t renew his passport due to the criminal charges filed against him.