A 16-year legal battle finally ended in relief for a Gwalior-based man after the Madhya Pradesh High Court awarded him Rs 10 lakh compensation for being wrongly jailed for 57 days in a drug case triggered by a bizarre airport security mix-up involving a common kitchen spice.
The case dates back to 2010, when Ajay Singh arrived at Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport to board a flight to Delhi. During routine security screening, an explosive detector machine raised an alert while scanning his luggage.
Security personnel then carried out a detailed search and recovered a powder-like substance from his bag. Suspecting it to be a narcotic substance, officials detained Singh without conducting adequate verification.
Police subsequently booked him under serious drug trafficking charges and sent him to jail.
Singh remained behind bars for 57 days before forensic examination revealed that the seized material was not a banned substance, but amchur powder, a commonly used kitchen spice in Indian households.
According to the court proceedings, the Forensic Science Laboratory report took nearly two months to arrive, delaying Singh’s release and prolonging his incarceration.
Though he was later granted bail, the incident left a lasting impact on his personal life, professional career and social reputation. Singh later approached the court, alleging negligence and procedural lapses by the authorities.
Delivering its verdict, the Madhya Pradesh High Court strongly criticised the conduct of the state government and investigating agencies, observing that technical lapses and delays had caused irreparable harm to an innocent citizen.
The court said an individual’s liberty cannot be taken away merely because of faulty procedures or lack of resources.
The High Court further noted that investigative agencies must thoroughly verify facts before initiating criminal action against any person. It observed that Singh had suffered mental trauma, social stigma and professional setbacks for over a decade due to the wrongful arrest.
The court directed the Madhya Pradesh government to pay Singh Rs 10 lakh as compensation.
– Ends
Inputs from Dhiraj Sahu
Published By:
Shipra Parashar
Published On:
May 21, 2026 17:40 IST
