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What happens when an innocent person is targeted by a mob and falsely accused? Most people would agree that justice holds criminals accountable. But as the story of the Indore showdown shows, it is often the victim who has to go to jail. His case is not an isolated incident – it is part of a larger pattern of mob violence, fabricated charges and systemic failures that plague India’s justice system.
In 2021, Tasleem, a bangle seller in Indore, was attacked after entering a Hindu locality. The mob accused him of using fake identities and attempting to “trap Hindu women”. Despite video evidence of mob violence, Tasleem was arrested under fabricated charges, including sexual assault and forgery. He spent four months in jail and fought in court for more than three years before being acquitted.
The 13-year-old girl cited in the FIR failed to identify Tasleem in the court. The evidence of the dual Aadhaar card used to accuse him of forgery proved to be baseless. Yet the showdown caused irreparable damage to Tasleem’s life.
