Indian Court Awards Compensation After Spice Mix Mistaken for Heroin

An Indian businessman was detained for 57 days after security equipment at Bhopal airport identified packets of garam masala and aamchur as heroin and a psychotropic substance. The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled last month that the state was vicariously liable for the violation of the man's fundamental right to liberty.

Justice Deepak Khot noted the initial arrest had reasonable grounds but said the businessman could have been released sooner if state forensic facilities had been adequate.

The regional forensic laboratory returned the samples after ten days, stating it lacked equipment to test for the flagged psychotropic substance. The samples were then forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad, which found no contraband.

The petitioner stated that the Canadian-made detection machine was not calibrated for aromatic Indian spices and may have produced a false positive. The Airport Authority of India said the narcotics detection function was optional and that responsibility for acting on results rested with other agencies.

The court awarded 10 lakh rupees, approximately £9,000, to be paid within three months. The businessman remains free to file a separate civil suit for damages. The case had been pending since 2011.