Claiming that no action had been taken so far on their complaints about the 'torture', Biju and his wife suddenly doused themselves in kerosene and attempted to light a match stick, police said.
However, police on duty at the collectorate overpowered and took them to a nearby police station, they said.
Earlier, Biju, running a workshop, said he could not return the loan taken from the lender for business expansion due to loss.
Biju claimed he suffered a leg fracture and alleged that an attempt was made to molest his wife.
The immolation bid, caught on camera, went viral in social media.
When contacted, a senior district official declined to comment, saying only after an inquiry he could react on the allegations.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content