Allahabad HC directs Dalit women to refund compensation for misuse of SC/ST Act

The court further added that this suggests a “deliberate attempt to manipulate the criminal justice process after wrongfully obtaining public funds, thereby committing a fraud upon the State.”

Justice Yadav ordered the victim, a Scheduled Caste community woman, and her two daughters-in-law to refund the entire amount of Rs. 4.5 lakh to the competent authority.

The high court also imposed a fine of Rs. 5 lakh on all 19 accused, pointing it is to prevent ‘recurrence of such manipulative conduct’.

The court found it “deeply disturbing” that the victim denied filing the FIR, despite affirming the allegations in her statements and availing substantial monetary compensation.

Background of the case

In this case, the victim lodged an FIR in 2021 in Prayagraj under various provisions of the IPC and the SC/ST Act.

In the November 4 hearing, the accused argued that the FIR was lodged on the thumb impression of the victim. However, it was denied by the victim, stating no FIR had ever been lodged by her.

Notably, on Thursday, appearing before the high court, the victim admitted that her thumb impression was taken on blank paper.

However, Government Advocate Patanjali Mishra submitted that the FIR was, in fact, lodged based on a written complaint by the victim herself in 2021.

Patanjali Mishra also informed the court that the statements of all three victims were recorded, where they unequivocally supported the prosecution’s version.

The appeal was filed for quashing the summoning order issued by the special sessions trial in 2024.

The court directed the special judge (SC/ST) to proceed with the matter strictly in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the victim’s contradictory stand or the observations of the High Court.