Lucknow lawyer gets life term for orchestrating false rape cases under SC/ST Act

In a landmark judgment underscoring the gravity of abusing protective laws, a special court in Lucknow has sentenced advocate Parmanand Gupta to life imprisonment for fabricating rape cases under the SC/ST Act in collusion with a Dalit woman.

According to the prosecution, Gupta masterminded a series of false complaints — 18 cases filed by him and 11 lodged by the woman—to harass and target his adversaries, often over personal disputes. The court found him guilty of conspiring to weaponize serious allegations, including rape and molestation, to settle scores.

Special Public Prosecutor Arvind Mishra told the court that police investigations revealed the extent of the conspiracy. In one instance, the woman filed a false rape case against two brothers earlier this year, allegedly at Gupta’s behest, linked to a property dispute involving Gupta’s wife. Probe details showed she was not even present at the location of the alleged incident.

While the woman was acquitted after admitting she had been misled, the court sternly cautioned her against future misuse of the law. “If she engages in such criminal conspiracies again, strict legal action will follow,” the court noted in its order.

Gupta, who has been in custody for a month, was convicted under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for false charges with intent to injure and for misleading public authorities, along with violations of the SC/ST Act.

In a significant directive, the court ordered that a copy of the judgment be sent to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh to ensure Gupta is barred from entering court premises or practicing law, citing the need to “uphold the sanctity of the judiciary.”

The court also instructed the Lucknow Police Commissioner to maintain detailed records of individuals who repeatedly file serious offences such as rape or gang rape. It suggested that police and courts use AI tools to track patterns of false complaints, ensuring prior records are disclosed whenever fresh FIRs are registered.

This verdict, legal experts say, serves as a stern reminder that while protective laws remain vital, their misuse will not be tolerated, particularly when employed to malign innocents or undermine the justice system.