Hirotoshi Tanaka’s Unusual Bengaluru Story: Police Chair Theft, 19 Days in Jail and INR 75,000 Compensation

When Japanese student Hirotoshi Tanaka came to Bengaluru in 2019, he had one simple plan - to learn English, experience life in India and eventually return to his parents in Yaizu city, Shizuoka, Japan. Instead, his journey took him from a police station to Bengaluru Central Prison, then to the Karnataka High Court, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and eventually a detention centre before he was deported to Japan in April 2021. Nearly seven years after arriving in the city, Tanaka has now received INR 75,000 in compensation from the Karnataka government after the human rights commission held that he had been unnecessarily kept in judicial custody for 19 days.

A Dispute At An English Academy Led To His Arrest

Tanaka, a 36-year-old psychology graduate at the time, arrived in Bengaluru in 2019 and enrolled at a private English academy, reported Indian Express. He was dissatisfied with the academy after classes were allegedly cancelled frequently, and an escalating dispute with the academy's head reportedly turned into a physical altercation. Fake IAS Officer Arrested In Bihar: Man Duped Villagers Using Fake Govt Car, Insignia and Official Tags.

Following the incident, the RT Nagar police registered a case against him under charges of voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation. Although the offences were bailable, Tanaka was arrested on November 23, 2019, and sent to Bengaluru Central Prison, where he spent 19 days before being released on December 11.

Tanaka told TOI he did not understand India's legal system at the time of his arrest. "I didn't know anything about my case. Nothing was explained in the police station or before the magistrate," he said. "I didn't know my section numbers. I didn't even know legal terms like 'advocate', 'bail', 'magistrate', 'custody', '(criminal) case' and so on." Mumbai Cybercrime: Ex Bank Officer Digitally Arrested for 54 Days on Threat of Implication in Delhi Bomb Blast; INR 40 Lakh Extorted in Bhandup.

Alleged Bribery Demand After His Release

Tanaka's troubles did not end with his release from prison. He alleged that a police officer, then a sub-inspector, demanded a bribe from him. According to Tanaka, he paid Rs 5,500 after negotiations, and the officer allegedly later demanded a further Rs 3,000 to settle the case.

The Karnataka High Court eventually quashed the FIR and all criminal proceedings against him on November 2, 2020, after the academy head agreed to settle the dispute.

He Stole A Police Chair To Get Arrested Again

Despite the case being quashed, Tanaka did not return to Japan. He instead approached the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission in December 2020, alleging that the police official had demanded a bribe from him.

As his exit permit deadline of February 28, 2021 approached and his complaint remained unresolved, Tanaka devised an unusual plan. Around 1 am on February 28, he walked into the JC Nagar ACP's office in RT Nagar, picked up a white plastic chair, took selfies with it and carried it back to his home in BTM Layout, hoping the "theft" would get him arrested and allow him to remain in India.

"I wish to attend the hearing and I though I I had to but I was penniless and application for new exit permit had been pending. So to clear my financing problems and visa problem I committed "theft". But nothing happened," he said.

Human Rights Commission Ruled In His Favour

After returning to Japan, Tanaka continued pursuing his case through his Bengaluru-based advocate Rohan Kothari. The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission ruled in his favour on May 9, 2022, concluding that police officials had failed to justify his arrest in a bailable offence case, resulting in his unnecessary judicial custody for 19 days. It recommended Rs 75,000 in compensation, disciplinary proceedings against the officer, and guidelines for handling arrests of foreign nationals.

The compensation, however, was delayed for years, with Tanaka approaching the Karnataka High Court in September 2022 to seek enforcement of the order. The State government finally complied this year, and the amount was transferred to Tanaka's counsel on June 22.

"My bank in Japan didn't handle Indian Rupee so I asked Rohan to get the compensation. I think I can say I got 75k from Karnataka," Tanaka said.

Still Blacklisted From Re-Entering India

Tanaka said he now wishes to return to India to visit his wife's hometown in the Northeast, but remains barred from re-entry due to his 2021 deportation. "Yes. My wife is from North East and I wish to visit her hometown and meet her relatives as soon as possible. But I am still blackmailed thanks to deportation in 2021 so cannot reenter India. Now an advocate based in Mumbai(not Rohan Kothari in Bangalore) is trying to have my name removed from blacklist," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 09:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).