New Delhi: In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted regular bail to Jharkhand-based lawyer Virendra Singh, who had been accused by a former woman client of hurling casteist slurs and assaulting her within the premises of a Jamshedpur court in February 2022. The apex court, presided over by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice A G Masih, termed the case a “gross misuse” of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
“This is gross misuse of the SC/ST Act,” remarked CJI Gavai during the hearing, echoing earlier observations made while granting Singh interim protection through anticipatory bail in July 2024. The court had previously noted that no specific role had been attributed to Singh in the FIR and that a history of legal dispute existed between the complainant and the accused.
The complainant, a woman who was formerly represented by Singh, alleged that he and several other lawyers used casteist slurs against her and assaulted her when she refused to comply with a fee-related demand. The incident, according to the complainant, occurred in full public view at the Jamshedpur court complex.
Despite opposition from the complainant’s counsel, who sought additional time to file a counter affidavit, the Supreme Court refused to delay the matter. It emphasized that the state had already been granted a final extension to file its response by April 17, 2025, and noted Singh’s cooperation with the investigation.
“Taking into consideration the fact that pursuant to the interim orders passed by this Court dated 12.07.2024, the petitioner has joined the investigation and cooperated with the investigating agency, we are inclined to make the order dated 12.07.2024 passed by this Court absolute,” the bench stated.
Advocate Chayan Sarkar, appearing for Singh, argued that the case stemmed from a personal fallout between a lawyer and his client. He further pointed out that the complainant had filed multiple FIRs against Singh and his family, suggesting a pattern of vendetta.
The Jharkhand High Court had earlier dismissed Singh’s plea for anticipatory bail in December 2023, citing statements in the FIR that allegedly placed Singh at the scene of the incident and suggested he acted in concert with others.
Sarkar countered that the High Court had merely reiterated FIR content without independent verification or scrutiny of direct evidence against Singh. He contended that the real allegations targeted certain elected members of the district bar association, not Singh directly.
