Thiruvananthapuram: A Crime Branch report has suggested that Bindu R, a Dalit woman, was falsely accused of stealing a gold chain from her employer’s house in Peroorkada on April 23. According to Bindu, who was read parts of the report, the probe concluded that no theft had taken place and that the incident resulted from a lapse on the part of the employer, Omana Daniel. The report has been submitted to the State Human Rights Commission, which is scheduled to consider the case on Wednesday.

Bindu, who worked as a domestic help at Omana’s house, was detained at the Peroorkada police station for nearly 20 hours. She was allegedly denied food, water and sleep, and pressured to confess. Following public outrage, two officers were suspended. Police have also registered cases against Omana, her daughter Nisha, Sub-Inspector Prasad S G, and Grade ASI Prasanna Kumar.

“I can never forget what happened that day. I held their feet and begged, saying I had not taken the chain. Still, the police insisted I should return it. It was policeman Prasannan who harassed me the most,” Bindu said in tears.

The chain was later found under a sofa in Omana’s house during a search by the family. Omana had forgotten she had placed it there. Although the family informed the police about the discovery, officers claimed it was recovered from a garbage heap behind the house.

Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner Thomson Jose told Onmanorama that a separate probe, conducted on the directive of the Kerala State SC/ST Commission, had revealed several conflicting findings in the case, including discrepancies over where the chain was found.

"The probe was ordered by State Human Rights Commission.The report was submitted to the Commission. A case was also registered against the police officers based on order of SC/ST Commission. There are conflicting statements regarding the recovery of the gold chain.This will be a part of the investigation," he said.

Bindu's response
“Now I feel relieved. It was the police who orchestrated all this. Even after Omana admitted that the chain was found, the police pinned the blame on me. If she hadn’t spoken up, I would have been made the accused. Omana and her daughter stood with the police to protect them, and in the end, all the blame fell on me.

I went to court only to prove my innocence and to question how the police claimed the chain was recovered from the garbage heap. I never committed this crime. Policeman Prasad supported Omana Daniel. Even after questioning me and letting me go, the police never said the chain had been found. I only learned about it from a retired policeman outside the station. They have money and influence, and that is why the police stood with them,” she said.