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High Court dismisses £7m claim over alleged detention injury as fabricated
The High Court dismissed Vengadeswara Raw Gopalakrishnan’s claim for more than £7 million against the Home Office, finding that he had deliberately fabricated or greatly exaggerated injuries he said he suffered in immigration detention. The judge said the claim had wasted public resources and court time over 12 years, and ordered Gopalakrishnan to pay the Home Office’s legal costs.
Gopalakrishnan said he had severe psychiatric illness and needed round-the-clock care, with Reena Mathew acting as his litigation friend. But evidence showed the pair had been in a relationship for more than 10 years and had three children, while surveillance and other records showed him exercising, driving, taking children to school and working as a delivery driver. He came to the UK in 2010, overstayed his student visa and was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2023.
In short
- High Court rejects a £7 million detention injury claim.
- Judge finds the alleged symptoms were fabricated or exaggerated.
- Claimant ordered to pay the Home Office’s legal costs.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The case for the court’s decision is that a claim of this scale must be supported by reliable evidence, and the judge found that Gopalakrishnan had fabricated or greatly exaggerated his injuries. Dismissing the claim and ordering costs protects public funds and court time, and signals that misleading the court has serious consequences.
The case against
The strongest case for caution is that surveillance and everyday activities do not, by themselves, establish the full extent of someone’s psychiatric illness or care needs, which can vary over time and may not be visible. Given the serious consequences of rejecting a claim about injury in detention, a fair process should assess all medical and other evidence carefully and distinguish proven exaggeration from any genuine harm.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Sri Lankan migrant who sued taxpayer for £7m saying he needed round-the-clock care after suffering in detention centre – but he’d been seen go-karting, hitting the gym and doing the school run”.