Why is a Youth in Neemuch Brewing Tea Handcuffed?

Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh), June 14 (NationPress) In a striking and innovative protest, a young man from Neemuch district in Madhya Pradesh has begun brewing tea while wearing handcuffs—delivering a powerful message against dowry harassment.

The extraordinary demonstration by 30-year-old Krishnakumar Dhakad, affectionately known as KK, has garnered attention nationwide, with #Justice4KK trending on various social media platforms.

Originally from Athana in Neemuch, KK once aspired to pass the UPSC exams. However, his life took a dramatic twist when allegations of false dowry harassment and domestic violence disrupted his marriage, business, and ambitions.

Instead of succumbing to despair, KK chose an unconventional route—he opened a tea stall in Anta, Rajasthan, the hometown of his estranged wife.

However, this is no ordinary tea stall. Dubbed the “Section 498A Tea Cafe,” after the IPC section addressing cruelty against women by husbands or in-laws, KK’s stall serves as a visual protest. It is decorated with banners emblazoned with slogans like “The tea will keep boiling until justice is served” and “Let’s talk over tea—how much more for Section 125?” (referring to the maintenance case against him).

He brews tea while wearing handcuffs, symbolizing the emotional and legal chains he feels he is bound by. The stall is also adorned with a groom’s turban and garland, signifying the day he believes his troubles began.

In an interview with IANS, KK shared his story. He married a woman from Anta on July 6, 2018. In 2019, they both trained in beekeeping and launched a small business in Athana, which thrived and even received accolades from former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for empowering women by employing them in their business.

However, in October 2022, KK’s wife allegedly left their home without reason and returned to her parental house. Following this, KK claims his life and business collapsed. Months later, she filed cases against him under IPC Section 498A (dowry harassment) and Section 125 (maintenance), bringing his once-successful honey business to a halt.

“I had to shut everything down. My mother and I have been living in a tin shed since then,” KK recounted.

“There were moments I contemplated ending my life, but I remembered—I’m the sole support for my elderly mother.”

KK asserts that his protest is not against women but rather against the misuse of legal provisions intended to protect them.

“The laws are vital, but they’re being misused in many situations. Today, men like me face mental and social harassment. Justice seems distant, but I will keep fighting.”

He references recent high-profile cases like the Saurabh-Muskan incident in Meerut and the Sonam-Raja Raghuvanshi case in Indore—where a newlywed woman was accused of murdering her husband—indicating that these cases reflect the fear and betrayal many men experience today.

“I am not alone. There are countless others suffering in silence.”

In a symbolic act of resilience, KK decided to protest in the town where he believes a conspiracy against him was hatched. By establishing the “498A Tea Cafe” in Anta, he aims to transform his suffering into purpose.

“I am already burdened by the false allegations of Section 498A. Now I face maintenance claims under Section 125. But I won’t give in,” he declared.

“My tea stall is more than just a source of income—it represents my courtroom, my voice, and my fight for justice. Until justice is achieved, the tea will keep boiling.”

Local bystanders have started to take notice. Some stop for a cup of tea; others linger to listen.