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Kerala Court Slams Police Over Liquor Arrest: 'Not a Banana Republic'

A Kerala court has strongly criticized the police for arresting a man over just 10 ml of liquor. The judge pointed out this happened in the world's largest democracy, not a banana republic. The 32-year-old man spent a whole week in jail for this minor offense. This case has sparked debates about police overreach and the need for protocol changes.

Key Points: Kerala Court Criticizes Police for 10 ml Liquor Arrest

  • Court criticized Valanchery Police for arresting man with just 10 ml liquor
  • 32-year-old Dhanesh spent week in jail for minor offense
  • Judge warned such actions erode public trust in police
  • Legal experts say incident reflects wider excise law overreach
2 min read

'Not a banana republic': Court slams Kerala Police for arresting youth for possessing 10 ml of liquor

Manjeri court condemns Kerala Police for arresting man over 10 ml liquor, calling it misuse of power in world's largest democracy.

"This did not happen in a banana republic but in the world's largest democracy - Manjeri District Principal Sessions Court"

Malappuram, Nov 4

The Manjeri District Principal Sessions Court on Tuesday slammed the Kerala Police for arresting a 32-year-old man for possessing just 10 millilitres of liquor.

"This did not happen in a banana republic but in the world's largest democracy," observed the court.

The court's criticism, directed at the Sub-Inspector of Valanchery Police Station, underscored what it termed a serious misuse of police powers and an affront to individual liberty.

The judge observed that the accused, Dhanesh of Painkannur near Tirur, was forced to spend a week in jail for an offence that did not warrant arrest or remand.

The court questioned the very rationale of taking a person into custody for possessing such an insignificant quantity of Indian-made foreign liquor.

It also warned that such arbitrary use of authority erodes public trust in law enforcement and undermines the principles of justice.

Dhanesh was arrested on October 25 under provisions of the Kerala Abkari Act after police allegedly found him carrying a small bottle containing 10 ml of liquor.

He was later remanded to judicial custody before being released on bail.

Legal experts and rights advocates said the incident reflects a wider pattern of overreach in the enforcement of excise laws in Kerala, where even negligible quantities of liquor often lead to arrest.

Lawyers noted that the Abkari Act provides for the discretionary handling of minor offences and that detention in such cases violates the doctrine of proportionality upheld by Indian courts.

The Sessions Court's remark has sparked debate within legal circles over the need to re-evaluate police protocols governing arrests under the Abkari Act.

As of Tuesday evening, the State Police Department had not issued any statement on the court's observations.

In Kerala, individuals can legally possess up to 3 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) without a permit, provided it is purchased from an authorised source.

Possession of more than this limit, or liquor not purchased from a licensed outlet, is an offence under the Abkari Act and can lead to penalties such as fines and/or imprisonment

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The "banana republic" comment hits hard but it's true. Spending a week in jail for 10ml? That's just ridiculous. Our police need better training on when to use their powers. Good that the court called this out.
A
Arjun K
While I agree the arrest was excessive, let's not forget that Kerala has strict liquor laws for good reasons. The police might have been following procedure, but they definitely need more discretion in minor cases like this.
S
Sarah B
This poor man's life was disrupted for a week over something so trivial. The trauma of jail time for such a minor issue is unacceptable. Hope this case leads to police reform in Kerala. 🤞
V
Vikram M
The court is absolutely right about erosion of public trust. When police misuse power like this, people stop cooperating with them even for genuine cases. This affects overall law and order.
M
Michael C
As someone who has lived in multiple countries, I can say this kind of overreach is concerning. The police should use their discretion better - 10ml is practically nothing. Hope this judgment brings positive change.

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