BY ADITI MISHRA
The Karnataka High Court has quashed two criminal cases against Bengaluru-based doctor T Nagendrappa and directed the state government to set up a district-level committee to investigate suspected illegal immigration operations within three months.
Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order on October 16, 2026. The court has also directed the state to submit the compliance report explaining how the committees were made, who the members are, and how they function.
Dr Nagendrappa approached the court after two criminal cases were filed against him. He said he had reported suspected illegal immigration to the police on July 22, 2026.
According to reports, he had raised concerns about people living in a labour shed behind a government school in Kodathi village, along Sarjapur Main Road. He suspected that some of them were from Bangladesh.
Two people, identified as Nasreena and Mohammed Saidul Islam, later filed complaints against the doctor, accusing him of threatening or assaulting them. One of the registered complaints alleged that the doctor had assaulted them after finding out that they belonged to a foreign nation.
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The court raised questions about how the complaint was filed against the doctor. It noted that the police acted on the doctor’s complaint and then registered the assault case against him just 15 minutes later.
“The criminal justice system cannot be allowed to be turned on its head – where the person who reports an alleged illegality finds himself pursued by the criminal process at the instance of those against whom his information was directed.” the court observed, as reported by The Indian Express.
The court cancelled both criminal cases against Dr Nagendrappa, but this does not prove that the people the doctor reported for illegal immigration were found guilty.
The court directed the Karnataka government to set up district-level committees and make them work within three months. The move follows the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines issued on May 2, 2025, for finding, identifying, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants.
The court passed clear instructions that the committee must do their duties rather than just exist on paper. The court also called on the police to work with the other concerned authorities.
The court stated that the state must not ignore the serious concern of illegal immigration. It warned that failing to act on the case can eventually create problems for the government system. It mentioned concerns like fake identities, human trafficking, and organized crime.
The court also ensured that the suspected illegal immigrants should be treated under the law and should be given legal protection.
Legal protection should not be compromised because of their nationality or their immigrant status.
(Rh/AM)