Russian man freed after 10 years under house arrest in India
A Russian musician spent 10 years under house arrest in India awaiting transfer to a strict-regime prison, but was released after India's Supreme Court ruled his guilt unproven due to the authorities' failure to properly handle and document his dog, which was seized and later lost.
Consensus
- The Russian man was detained at the India-Nepal border in 2016.
- He was accused of possessing 1.9 kg of charas, a form of hashish.
- He was sentenced to 10 years in a strict-regime prison.
- He remained under house arrest for nearly 10 years while appealing the verdict.
- India's Supreme Court ruled his guilt was not proven.
- His dog, a cocker spaniel, was seized during the border check and later lost.
- The dog was not properly documented as evidence.
- The court cited the failure to properly manage the dog as a reason for overturning the conviction.
- The man was released in court after 10 years of legal proceedings.
- The man has no hope of finding his dog.
Points of divergence
- The man was a musician from St. Petersburg. — riamo
- The man's name is Danyar Vil'danov. — tg_bazabazon
Coverage (2 sources)
- A dog saved him from prison: Russian man spent 10 years under house arrest in India — РИАМО
- Russian man spent 10 years under house arrest in India, awaiting transfer to a high-security colony. He managed to avoid prison thanks to his dog, which was seized and lost. — Baza