Lucknow: In a significant ruling, a special SC/ST court in Lucknow sentenced a mason, Maiku Lal, to six months’ imprisonment for lodging a false First Information Report (FIR) under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court observed that the Act had been misused in this case to harass innocent individuals and stressed that such misuse undermines the core principles of justice.
Special Judge (SC/ST Act), Additional District Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi, pronounced the order on Tuesday, stating that the law cannot be used as a tool for vendetta or personal gain. The judge remarked, “The fundamental principle of Indian criminal law is that it is better to let 100 guilty persons go free than to convict one innocent person. When someone files a false FIR, it strikes at the very core of this principle, which is unacceptable.”
The case dates back to 2017, when Maiku Lal, a mason engaged by Sumit and Amit Kalra of Shitlapuram, Para, to construct their house in 2016, lodged an FIR at Alamnagar police station on May 9, 2017. In his complaint, Lal accused the Kalra brothers of withholding a payment of ₹1,77,603 and abusing him with caste-based slurs on March 10, 2017. He claimed they had paid him only ₹3,05,100 out of the total amount due.
However, the probe led by then Circle Officer (Alambagh), Meenakshi, revealed that the allegations were fabricated. Investigations, including call detail records and witness accounts from neighbours, confirmed that Lal was not present at the Kalras’ residence on the date of the alleged incident. The officer concluded that the FIR was filed with the intention of exerting undue pressure on the house owners to extract more money. A final report was submitted in court on June 4, 2017, declaring the complaint false.
The court underlined that misuse of the SC/ST Act not only causes undue harassment to innocent people but also weakens the credibility of the law meant to protect vulnerable communities. Government advocate Arvind Mishra, representing the state, said the verdict would serve as a deterrent against frivolous or malicious cases filed under the Act.
While Lal has been awarded six months’ imprisonment, he was granted bail since his sentence was less than three years.
Legal experts believe that the judgment sends out a clear message against the misuse of special legislations. While the SC/ST Act is a vital safeguard against caste-based atrocities, its abuse for personal disputes can dilute its effectiveness. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s stance that justice cannot be compromised by false accusations.
