Rajesh Vishwakarma, a poor daily-wage labourer with no land or parents, was jailed for 13 months after simply helping a neighbour in need. In June last year, a woman in his locality asked him to take her to the hospital. She was feeling unwell, and Rajesh, without thinking twice, helped her get medical care and then went on to his daily work.
By evening, the woman had passed away. Shockingly, the very next morning, police arrested Rajesh and accused him of murder. He had no motive, and there was no evidence against him. Yet, without legal support or trial, Rajesh was thrown behind bars for over a year, without contact with his family.
Unable to afford a lawyer, Rajesh’s fate would have remained sealed if not for Reena Verma, a court-appointed advocate who fought tirelessly to prove his innocence. Thanks to her efforts, he was finally declared innocent and released. But freedom came at a heavy cost. His room was sealed by the police, and he now owes over a year’s rent.
Worse still, his community continues to treat him like a criminal. Despite being cleared officially, no one offers him work. His reputation remains damaged. Adding to his humiliation, his sister had to bribe jail officials ₹500 to recover his Aadhaar card and phone.
Though free, Rajesh Vishwakarma remains a victim of a broken system. His life is in ruins, and compensation is nowhere in sight. In a just world, he would be rebuilding his life — but in India, justice often ends at release.
