Lucknow Court Awards Life Sentence to Advocate for Fabricating False Rape Cases Under SC/ST Act
In a landmark judgment aimed at curbing the misuse of law, the Special Judge of the SC/ST Court in Lucknow on Tuesday sentenced advocate Permanand Gupta to life imprisonment for orchestrating a series of false rape cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Additional District Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi, presiding as the Special Judge of the SC/ST Court, delivered the verdict.
Gupta, along with his associate Pooja Rawat, had been lodged in jail for the past month.
However, the court ordered Rawat’s release after she revealed that Gupta had manipulated and exploited her to frame his neighbours in fabricated cases.
The Dispute That Triggered a Web of False Allegations
The case traces its roots to a long-standing property dispute between Permanand Gupta and his neighbours Arvind Yadav and Awadhesh Yadav, all residents of Vibhuti Khand in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar.
To settle scores, Gupta allegedly devised a malicious plan to weaponize the SC/ST Act against them.
Gupta’s wife, Sangeeta, ran a beauty parlour where she employed Rawat, a young woman originally from Gorakhpur who had moved to Lucknow in search of work.
Exploiting her vulnerable position and SC status, Gupta persuaded Rawat to lodge multiple false FIRs of rape and sexual harassment against the Yadav brothers.
Between March 1, 2024, and July 24, 2024, Rawat filed several complaints at Gupta’s behest. However, a thorough investigation by the Vibhuti Khand police later exposed the allegations as entirely fabricated.
A Pattern of Abuse of Law
Government advocate Arvind Mishra, representing the state, highlighted a disturbing pattern during court proceedings.
He revealed that Rawat had filed as many as 11 previous FIRs, with the current one being her 12th complaint—all orchestrated and filed under the guidance of advocate Gupta.
According to Mishra, Gupta not only dictated the false statements but also coached Rawat during investigations to build fabricated cases against multiple individuals.
Victims included several members of the Yadav family—Arvind, Awadhesh, Ram Lakhan, Ram Ujagar, Lal Ji, Jitendra, and Mohit Yadav.
“The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has already directed the CBI to conduct an in-depth probe into the matter and submit a detailed report,” Mishra confirmed, underscoring the gravity of the case.
Court Observations and Wider Implications
The court came down heavily on the deliberate misuse of the SC/ST Act, noting that the accused not only attempted to malign reputations but also sought to extort money by lodging false cases.
“This case underscores the urgent need for accountability in legal filings and strong mechanisms to protect innocent individuals from malicious prosecutions,” the court observed.
Advocate Manoj Tripathi, former District Government Counsel, welcomed the ruling, calling it a strong precedent against the abuse of sensitive laws.
“The judgment sends a clear message that manipulating legal provisions for personal or financial gain will not be tolerated,” he said.
However, he also pointed to a worrying trend in Uttar Pradesh, where a handful of unscrupulous lawyers thrive on filing false FIRs related to atrocities and crimes against women.
“It is an open secret. Yet, there are no effective checks, no penalties, and such lawyers—though small in number—often escape accountability.
This judgment is a reminder that stricter oversight is urgently required,” Tripathi added.
The case, which has shocked both legal and public circles, is expected to pave the way for systemic reforms to prevent the misuse of protective legislation designed for the welfare of marginalized communities.
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