Japanese student’s bizarre chair stunt leads to compensation after years of legal battles in Bengaluru
Hirotoshi Tanaka, a Japanese student, spent 19 days in Bengaluru prison, later stole a police chair to force an arrest, and ultimately received Rs 75,000 compensation from the Karnataka government.
In 2019 Hirotoshi Tanaka came to Bengaluru to improve his English, but a clash with his academy’s head resulted in a police case for hurt and intimidation, leading to his arrest on 23 November and 19 days in Bengaluru Central Prison. After his release he struggled with an expired visa, alleged police bribery demands, and homelessness, prompting him to file a complaint with the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission. On 28 February 2021 he entered the RT Nagar assistant commissioner’s office, took a white plastic chair, photographed himself and waited for police action, hoping an arrest would extend his stay.
The commission later ruled that his detention was unjustified and directed the Karnataka government to pay Rs 75,000 as compensation, a sum that was finally transferred to his counsel and then to his Indian wife’s account in June 2024. Tanaka’s case highlights the challenges faced by foreign nationals navigating India’s legal and immigration systems.
Why it matters
The case shows how foreign students can become entangled in complex legal and immigration issues, prompting reforms for handling such cases.
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