Lucknow: In a landmark judgment exposing the dark misuse of protective laws, a Lucknow court has sentenced advocate Permanand Gupta to life imprisonment for masterminding a series of false rape cases under the SC/ST Act with the help of his associate, Pooja Rawat. The verdict, delivered by Additional District Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi, who serves as the special judge for the SC/ST court, has sent shockwaves across legal and social circles.
According to case records, Gupta, who resided in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, had a long-standing property dispute with his neighbours Arvind Yadav and Awadhesh Yadav. In an attempt to settle scores, Gupta manipulated Pooja Rawat—an employee at his wife Sangeeta’s beauty parlour—to lodge fabricated complaints of rape and sexual harassment against the Yadav family members. Rawat, originally from Gorakhpur, had moved to Lucknow in search of employment and soon found herself embroiled in Gupta’s scheme.
Between March 1, 2024, and July 24, 2024, Rawat filed multiple FIRs against Arvind and Awadhesh Yadav under the SC/ST Act. However, subsequent investigation by the Vibhuti Khand police revealed that all allegations were baseless. The probe further uncovered that Rawat, under Gupta’s influence, had lodged as many as 11 similar FIRs in the past, making the present complaint her twelfth. Each of these was filed with Gupta’s assistance, raising strong suspicion of a deliberate pattern of extortion through false legal claims.
During the trial, Government Advocate Arvind Mishra argued that Gupta used Rawat as a front to settle personal vendettas and create undue pressure on multiple individuals. Evidence presented in court showed that Gupta dictated Rawat’s statements during investigations, carefully orchestrating the narrative to implicate his rivals. Victims of these false cases included several members of the Yadav family, namely Ram Lakhan Yadav, Ram Ujagar Yadav, Lal Ji Yadav, Jitendra Yadav, and Mohit Yadav.
While Gupta was handed a life term, the court ordered the release of Pooja Rawat, who claimed she had been misled and exploited by the advocate. Accepting her plea, the court noted her role as secondary, though it highlighted her repeated involvement in filing fabricated complaints.
The judgment has been hailed as a stern warning against the abuse of protective legislation. Advocate Manoj Tripathi, former district government counsel, remarked, “The verdict underlines the urgent need for accountability in the legal process. Misuse of such laws not only ruins lives but also undermines genuine victims who need these protections the most.”
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has already directed the CBI to probe the wider ramifications of the case, with a detailed report awaited. Legal experts say this case may well set a precedent in ensuring stricter scrutiny of FIRs filed under sensitive provisions of the law.
With Gupta now behind bars for life, the ruling stands as a powerful reminder that the justice system will not tolerate the weaponization of law for personal gain.
