Following a series of raids carried out by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on five rehab centres allegedly involved in serious violations, as many as three FIRS have been filed against the accused charging them under wrongful confinement and harassment to the inmates under the garb of treatment.
One of the victims who was rescued, identified as Krishne Gowda, 50, alleged that his wife Asha, her father Anand, and a relative Kiran forcibly admitted him to the centre on false grounds to stop him from attending court hearings related to a long-standing property dispute. He alleged that he has been confined at the centre since December 2023 despite being mentally fit and never addicted to substances.
In another statement recorded on Thursday evening, a youth told police that he was sent to the same rehab centre by his mother in the first week of June due to addiction of mobile games and behavioural issues. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case of illegal confinement under the Juvenile Justice Act for further investigation.
.Officials said many of the detainees were non-addicted individuals, held without proper medical oversight or legal process.
Published – June 19, 2025 11:39 pm IST