Lawyer in Lucknow received life sentence for fabricating rape charges under SC/ST Act in court
In a landmark ruling, a Lucknow court has sentenced lawyer Parmanand Gupta to life imprisonment for misusing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court also ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.
The court's decision came after it was revealed that Gupta had registered 11 First Information Reports (FIRs) and filed 18 cases under the SC/ST Act. A large number of these cases were filed in collaboration with Pooja Rawat, who worked at a salon run by Gupta's wife.
Rawat revealed that Gupta used her, knowing she belonged to the SC community, to file cases against his opponents. The conspiracy was exposed when the Allahabad High Court heard a case seeking the quashing of an FIR registered by Pooja Rawat.
The court, presided over by Special Judge (SC/ST) Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi, acquitted Rawat but warned that future misuse of the SC/ST Act would result in strict action. Gupta was fined ₹5.1 lakh and was also sentenced to one year and ten years for offences under Sections 217 and 248 respectively of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The sentences will run separately. The first sentence to be served is under Section 217/49, followed by Section 248/49 BNS, and then Section 3 (2)5 SC/ST Act. The court did not discuss any specific Section of the BNS or the SC/ST Act beyond the context of the case.
The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, was informed of the Lucknow court's decision regarding lawyer Parmanand Gupta's case. The court stated that a convicted criminal like Gupta must be barred from court premises to maintain the purity of the judiciary. The court also observed that if advocates like Gupta are allowed to continue in the legal profession, it could seriously affect public faith in the Indian judiciary.
A copy of the information and decision was sent to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, for further action. The court did not repeat the sentences given to Gupta, the court presiding, or the fines imposed. This significant ruling serves as a stern warning against the misuse of laws designed to protect vulnerable communities.
