A Bengaluru doctor who had alerted authorities about two persons he suspected of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants was himself arrested after the two individuals filed counter-complaints against him, triggering questions over the police action and eventually drawing sharp scrutiny from the Karnataka High Court, as reported in The South First.
Dr Nagendra had reportedly been assisting the police in identifying suspected illegal immigrants in Bengaluru.
On 22 July 2026, Nagendra informed authorities that two individuals, identified in reports as Nasreena of Hosasiddapura and Mohammed Saidulla Islam of Kodathi village, were Bangladeshi nationals who had been living in Bengaluru without valid documentation.
Following the complaint, the police reportedly initiated action to verify their status and informed the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
However, the developments soon took a different turn.
Counter-Complaints Lead To FIRs Against Doctor
Following Nagendra’s complaint, the two individuals filed separate complaints against him, alleging assault, criminal intimidation and other offences.
The Bellandur and Varthur police subsequently registered two FIRs against Nagendra.
He was arrested on 23 July 2026 and was later released.
Nagendra then approached the Karnataka High Court seeking quashing of the FIRs and protection from further coercive action. His contention was that the cases were retaliatory and that the police had registered them without properly verifying either the allegations against him or the status of the complainants.
The sequence of events subsequently came under the scrutiny of the High Court.
High Court Questions Police Conduct
On 28 July 2026, a single-judge bench headed by Justice M Nagaprasanna heard Nagendra’s petition and strongly questioned the manner in which the Bellandur and Varthur police had proceeded against him.
The court questioned why the police had acted on the counter-complaints against Nagendra without first verifying the allegations.
The court also reportedly took note of the timing of the events. The police had informed the FRRO about the alleged illegal stay of the two individuals on the night of July 22, following which a complaint against Nagendra was registered shortly afterwards.
Justice Nagaprasanna questioned how the police could proceed with an assault case in such circumstances without first establishing the basic facts of the complaint.
The court also reportedly questioned the absence of medical evidence supporting the assault allegations.
The judge observed that the sequence of events prima facie indicated an abuse of the criminal process and questioned why action appeared to have been taken against the person who had brought the alleged illegal immigration to the attention of authorities.
Court Raises National Security Concerns
The court also made strong observations regarding illegal immigration and the responsibility of the state machinery.
Justice Nagaprasanna reportedly questioned why the authorities were not acting firmly against illegal immigrants while entertaining complaints against citizens who brought suspected cases to their attention.
The judge described such police conduct as a potential threat to national security and questioned the state Home Department’s approach towards illegal immigration.
The court also raised concerns about people providing accommodation to foreign nationals without valid documentation.
On July 28, the High Court stayed further investigation in the two criminal cases against Nagendra, observing that the material before it prima facie indicated an abuse of the criminal process.
It also directed that the FRRO be made a respondent in the proceedings and sought details regarding the status of the two individuals whose nationality and immigration status had been questioned.
August 6: HC Calls For Strict Implementation Of MHA SOP
The matter was subsequently heard again on August 6.
During the hearing, the Karnataka High Court called for strict implementation of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ Standard Operating Procedure governing the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants.
The August 6 development came after the court’s earlier intervention in the FIRs against Nagendra and its direction to the FRRO to provide information regarding the two individuals.
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