Dalit student at IIT Bombay commits suicide; father says a professor used to make ‘casteist’ comments about his son
DCP Dattatreya Nalawade of Mumbai Police stated that a case has been registered under sections of abetment to suicide, the SC/ST Act, and other relevant sections, and an investigation is underway against all individuals named by the family. Mumbai – Following the suicide of a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay’s Powai campus on Friday evening, his family has leveled serious allegations of caste discrimination and institutional harassment. The deceased student has been identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode (22), a resident of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district and a second-year B.Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay. Sahil belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, and his classmates describe him as a very hardworking student who had achieved an 8.5 CGPA in his first year. An FIR has been registered at the Powai police station in this case, which has been charged under the SC/ST Act following allegations from family members, and the investigation has now been transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. This is reported to be the third suicide case reported on the IIT Bombay campus this year. Sahil was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Hostel No. 4 on Friday evening. When his roommates received no response, they informed the administration, which then called the police. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the police initially reported the case as an accidental death. According to the IIT Bombay administration, Sahil was caught using a mobile phone in the examination hall on the day of the incident and attempted to find answers by uploading the question paper to ChatGPT. The institute also clarified that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student following the incident. The institute stated that Sahil was assured that the incident would not impact his academic future. The institute has pledged support to Sahil’s friends, classmates, teachers, and others affected by the incident. It also stated that the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated. According to students, Sahil was asked to leave the hall after an alleged confrontation during an exam and was reprimanded by a professor in the corridor. About an hour after this alleged confrontation, Sahil hanged himself in his hostel room, and his body was recovered around 6 p.m. Sahil’s mother, Sonali Wakode, spoke to the media on Saturday, directly alleging that her son had been subjected to caste-based harassment and torture. She also alleged that he had been assaulted and demanded justice. Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode (47), alleged that for the past few months, Professor Suryanarayan Dulla of the Department of Energy Sciences had been making caste-based remarks and mentally harassing his son. The father demanded the professor’s immediate arrest and a Crime Branch investigation into the matter. However, all these allegations are still under investigation and have not been independently verified. The father also claimed that the professor threatened to implicate Sahil in a false case. Following the family’s complaint, a case has been registered at the Powai police station under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. DCP Dattatreya Nalawade of Mumbai Police stated that the case has been registered under sections of abetment to suicide and other relevant sections, and an investigation is underway against all the individuals named by the family. The family initially refused to accept Sahil’s body, but later accepted it when the case was handed over to the Crime Branch on Saturday night. An ACP-rank officer will now lead the investigation. Protests on Campus As news of the death spread, a large number of students gathered, surrounded the office of Director Shirish Kedare, and demanded the resignation of both the Director and Professor Dulla. The students also blocked the main gate of the institute, prompting police to arrive. By late evening, approximately 400 students had gathered, and by midnight, the number had grown to over a thousand. A third-year electrical student said during the protest that this was the third such incident at IIT Bombay this year and the second in the last two months. Students are demanding accountability and transparency from the administration. Another student described the incident as shocking, saying, “It feels like one of us has been left behind. The situation is still management versus students, but first, we should remember the soul that left us.” Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse, reacting to the incident, said that the government will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure appropriate action. The Darshan Solanki Case Recalls This is not the first time allegations of caste discrimination have surfaced at IIT Bombay. In February 2023, first-year B.Tech student Darshan Solanki jumped to his death from the seventh floor of his hostel, and his family had also alleged caste discrimination. According to Solanki’s mother’s statement, recorded in the police chargesheet, Darshan had told his mother that his fellow students’ behavior had changed when they learned about his caste. This incident marks the third student suicide at IIT Bombay in six months, raising serious questions about student mental health at higher education institutions nationwide. Between October 2022 and October 2025, 154,046 college students aged 18-25 called the Tele-Manas helpline, of which approximately 4%, or 5,642, were related to suicide-related concerns. The Supreme Court has also underscored the severity of this crisis, with 13,044 student suicides recorded in 2022 alone, representing 7.6% of the total suicides that year. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit girl accused of rape at gunpoint: FIR not filed even after 4 days, complaint filed with SP
A Dalit girl has been accused of being raped at gunpoint in a village in the Mahoba city Kotwali area. The victim alleges that two young men entered her home and committed the crime at gunpoint. The accused are also accused of stealing ₹2 lakh (approximately $200,000) of wedding-related money and gold and silver jewelry. The victim, accompanied by Samajwadi Party leader Hari Singh Verma, reached the SP’s office to complain that an FIR had not been filed and a medical examination had not been conducted even four days after the incident. Woman alone at home, two young men entered According to the victim, the incident occurred around 1:30 pm on September 14th. Her parents and brother had gone to work. She was alone at home. It is alleged that two young men from the same village entered her house armed with a pistol. One of the men held a pistol to her temple and threatened to kill her. The other young man then raped her. The victim alleges that after the incident, the accused took away ₹2 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewelry purchased for the wedding. The wedding money was saved over 25 years. According to the family, they had saved ₹2 lakh through hard labor over 25 years. The woman and her brother were to be married in January, and the money and jewelry were kept safe for this purpose. The victim’s family alleges that when they went to the accused’s house to complain after the incident, they were subjected to casteist slurs and threatened with death. FIR and medical examination not completed even after four days The victim alleges that even four days after the incident, the police had not registered a case based on her complaint. She had not even been medically examined. Following this, she went to the Superintendent of Police’s office with SP leader and former Block Chief Hari Singh Verma and demanded action. Given the seriousness of the case, the Superintendent of Police has directed the City Superintendent of Police to investigate and take strict action within two days. The victim’s family is demanding strict action and the death penalty against the accused. Irfan Khan Pathan | Mahoba Courtesy: Hindi News
AAP’s Dalit Paradox: Ambedkar On The Wall, And A Minister Facing Grave Questions
Gulzar Singh’s death has pointed to major loopholes in the state’s high-decibel campaign ‘Yudh Naheyan Virudh’ (War On Drugs). Chandigarh; Punjab is home to the largest proportion of Dalits in its population among all states, and some recent developments have put the politics concerning them on the boil, giving the Opposition ammunition to fire at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A party that displays Dalit icon and eminent jurist Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s portraits in its offices is now in the dock for a Dalit man’s death. And it’s linked to the drug crisis and rural distress, which have emerged as major issues on their own, six months ahead of the state polls. Gulzar Singh was a resident of Toor Banjara village that fell under the Dirba assembly constituency, from where Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is the MLA. This area falls in Sangrur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Gulzar Singh’s death has raised questions over the state’s high-decibel campaign ‘Yudh Naheyan Virudh’ (War On Drugs). On September 6, 2026, Harpal Cheema, a Dalit himself, was present in Toor Banjara when Gulzar Singh confronted him publicly and asked why drugs were openly being sold in the village. Instead of supporting Gulzar Singh for providing information about drug smuggling in the village, the minister, staff, and locals allegedly moved him aside. Later that evening, Gulzar Singh was allegedly summoned and subjected to severe pressure, intimidation, and demands to issue an unconditional public apology for questioning the minister. Distressed, Gulzar Singh consumed a poisonous substance on September 8 and died. Before his death, he recorded a video statement (dying declaration) naming minister Cheema and local panchayat members regarding the intimidation he faced. The minister has denied any role, and a case has been registered against some local leaders. The death triggered massive statewide political outrage and demands for accountability. He’d said his son was a drug addict. He not only told the minister publicly that his village was stressed due to the availability of drugs but also said three young men had died due to addiction. Opposition parties had already dubbed the anti-drugs campaign as mere propaganda, and are now accusing the AAP of double standards regarding promises made to the Dalit community and protecting their rights. Police charged the sarpanch, her husband, and three others with abetment to suicide and under the SC/ST Act, but Harpal Cheema is not named in that FIR, despite the man having made a dying declaration in a viral video clearly naming him as the reason behind his death. The political fallout is larger than one FIR. The Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have all called the FIR a “cover-up”. AAP calls it “vulture politics”. Another AAP minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, had resigned from the cabinet on March 21, 2026, following allegations that he abetted the suicide of a state warehousing official. The Opposition wants action against Harpal Cheema along those lines. Opposition Attacks AAP Over “Promises Not Kept” Since Dalits form 32 per cent of the population, parties made a beeline to console Gulzar’s family. The AAP government did swing into action and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh besides promising employment to a member of his family. But the Opposition wants Cheema’s resignation and action against him. “Sangrur is the district that elected the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister to the Assembly. The deceased, Gulzar Singh, complained in front of Harpal Cheema that ‘chitta’ (heroin) was being sold in his locality, that three children in his neighbourhood had already died of drug overdose, and that his own child was also taking drugs. Instead of investigating the accused and acting against the drug mafia, the Finance Minister sends his goons, pressure is put on the family, and Gulzar Singh is pushed to the point of suicide,” BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh alleged. Congress’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot also put Cheema in the dock. “The point at which the state of Punjab stands today is a matter of concern for the entire country,” he said, “The Chief Minister of this government had said we will end the drug problem in three months. Today four and a half years have passed, and more drugs are being sold than before.” “Today a poor Dalit daily-wage earner, Gulzar Singh, took his own life. Which human being takes his own life except when hope is already finished? That man’s crime was that he spoke about his children’s drug problem. He committed the crime of asking a question, and under pressure, he was forced to take his own life,” he added. “We have no caste enmity with Harpal Singh Cheema, but he is the Finance Minister,” he further said. “A man is taking his life and making a video saying he is taking his life with his own hands because of that person. Does the law not even require that there should be an investigation?” he asked, reminding AAP of its poll promise to appoint a Dalit MLA as Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister. Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is trying to “hide Harpal Cheema’s sins”, as the party had earlier dropped another cabinet minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, who was also accused of abetment to suicide. “There cannot be two laws in this country. District manager (of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation) Gagandeep Singh Randhawa had also died by suicide. In his dying declaration, he named a cabinet minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar. The minister was arrested and has been in jail for seven months. Gulzar Singh clearly stated that Harpal Cheema was responsible for his death. Five people were arrested, but Harpal Cheema was not arrested,” he noted. “Harpal Cheema is Kejriwal’s adopted son. We will ensure his resignation. We will come onto the streets. From the Punjab and Haryana High Court, there will be his resignation, there will be his arrest, and he will also go to jail,” Partap Singh Bajwa said.
Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against EC freeze on TMC name, ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol
Challenge comes after EC barred both factions from using the original party identity and allotted new names and symbols for October 6 bypolls NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the party’s name and election symbol. The plea is likely to be mentioned before the Chief Justice of India-led Bench on September 21 for urgent listing and hearing. On Friday, the poll panel allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol for the October 6 bypolls in two West Bengal Assembly constituencies, Nandigram and Rejinagar. In an interim order on Thursday, the Election Commission barred the rival factions from using the original name of the All India Trinamool Congress and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The factions were directed to choose new names and symbols until the dispute is resolved. The EC’s Thursday order said, “on due consideration of the totality of information available on record…the Commission is of the opinion that there are two rival groups in the All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Ms Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Shri Arup Roy, and each group is now claiming to be the party and therefore the matter requires a substantive determination by the Commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968.” AI in sports video 2AI in sports video 2 Banerjee had on Friday described the EC’s decision as a “Black Day” in the country’s democratic history and said she would continue to claim the original party name and symbol. “We will not surrender. We will not bow our heads before political pressure. We will fight this battle democratically and legally,” she said, according to The New Indian Express. She also said the organisation was built through nearly three decades of political struggle and that she could not abandon the All India Trinamool Congress, which she founded in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress. The dispute over the party’s identity followed a rebellion within the TMC after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. The rival camp has staked its claim to control of the party, with the EC examining competing submissions on its organisational structure, authorised representatives, name and election symbol. The EC’s intervention was prompted by the approaching bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, and Nagaon in Assam. Both factions had sought to contest under the original TMC identity, prompting the Commission to issue an interim arrangement before the elections. The legal challenge also comes as the TMC’s political crisis deepens. Banerjee’s faction has decided to support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll after its own nominee withdrew from the contest. Banerjee said the decision was intended to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The Supreme Court challenge will now bring the dispute over the TMC’s original name and symbol before the judiciary, while the EC’s substantive proceedings under Paragraph 15 remain pending. Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UP: Allegations of discrimination against Dalit engineers in the power department, SC/ST Commission demands high-level investigation from CM Yogi
Following a complaint from the UP Power Officers Association, the SC/ST Commission has taken a firm stance, recommending an impartial investigation to the Chief Minister regarding the alleged double standards faced by Dalit engineers in the power department. Lucknow: The issue of alleged discrimination against Dalit engineers working in the Uttar Pradesh Power Department (DISCOM) is gaining momentum. Baijnath Rawat, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Tribe (SC/ST) Commission, has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on this serious issue, demanding a high-level and impartial investigation into the matter. In the letter, written on Wednesday, Rawat specifically mentioned a memorandum submitted by UP Power Officers Association President RP Kane and other officials. The association alleged that Dalit engineers have been facing persistent discrimination for several years and that service rules are being selectively enforced in certain cases. However, this letter from the Commission’s Chairman does not independently confirm these allegations. Nevertheless, the letter urges the Chief Minister to investigate the facts stated in the association’s memorandum and appeals for appropriate and strict action based on the findings of the investigation. Regarding this controversy, the UP Power Officers Association issued a statement stating that it has submitted detailed records of more than a dozen Dalit engineers working in various state power companies to the Commission. The organization claims that different criteria have been applied in the cases of these officers. To prove its serious allegations, the association has presented several documents to the Commission. Association President RP Kane, Acting President Awadhesh Kumar Verma, Vice President PM Prabhakar, and office bearers Harishchandra Verma and Mukesh Babu expressed hope that an investigation will soon be initiated to establish the true facts. The organization clarified that its primary objective is not to create any conflict with the government or the department, but to protect the rights of its engineers under constitutional and legal provisions. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth sacrificed on the altar of casteism: Fact-finding report on Kosa honor killing exposes nexus between police and feudal lords
Brutal honor killing of Dalit youth in Kosa, Janjgir-Champa: Fact-finding report reveals sensational nexus between police and feudal lords Chhattisgarh: On September 15th, a state-level seminar was organized at the XISA Center in Raipur against hate speech, hate campaigns, and targeted violence. As part of this collaborative effort, a detailed report on the murder of a Dalit youth in Kosa, Chhattisgarh, was released by Harsh Mander, National Convenor of Caravan-e-Mohabbat, and in the presence of the fact-finding team. This multi-organizational report exposes the dark truth of a brutal honor killing that occurred under the jurisdiction of the Mulmula police station in Janjgir-Champa district. This horrifying incident occurred in Kosa village of Janjgir-Champa district, where 25-year-old Dalit youth Amit Kumar Bhandari suddenly went missing on the night of June 27, 2026. Two days later, on June 29, 2026, his body was found lying face down in a deserted grove near the village’s Amha pond. The deceased’s head and chest bore fatal injuries and clear marks of brutality, indicating a premeditated murder. According to the independent investigation team’s fact-finding report, the murder was rooted in an inter-caste love affair. The deceased Amit Bhandari (Satnami community) had been in a love relationship with Santoshi Singh, a Kshatriya woman from the same village, for the past seven to eight years. Angered by this relationship, the girl’s family had previously threatened Amit. This brutal murder was a direct result of the prevailing upper-caste dominance in society and the violent feudal mentality against Dalits. The report raises serious questions about the functioning of the local police and their caste biases. For two months after the incident, the police attempted to protect the real culprits and cover up the case. The police and cyber cell of Mulmula police station illegally detained and brutally beat the deceased’s elder brother, Amrit Bhandari, his wife, Lakshmi, and friend, Vinod. The police attempted to discredit the deceased’s sister-in-law and threatened her with electrocution, pressuring her to falsely confess to the murder. The case gained momentum following the activism of Dalit rights organizations, field visits by a fact-finding team, and an intensive social media campaign. Growing public pressure forced the police chief to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Finally, on September 9, 2026, the police uncovered the murder and arrested Santoshi Singh, her brother Bajrang Singh, and Pappu Singh Kshatriya. The police investigation established that Bajrang Singh, upon seeing Amit, who had come to meet Santoshi on the night of June 27th, lost his temper and brutally murdered him with a shovel. Pappu Singh and Santoshi then conspired to dispose of the body and mislead the police. For more facts and detailed context related to this incident, please see the “Kosa Words” report below. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
The High Court has sought a report from the Punjab government on the death of a Dalit laborer, raising demands for a CBI investigation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a firm stance on the suicide of a laborer in Sangrur who confronted Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the drug issue, and demands for a CBI investigation have gained momentum. New Delhi: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday summoned a detailed status report from the Punjab government regarding the suicide of Dalit laborer Gulzar Singh. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 6th and directed the state government to submit complete details of the investigation. While emphasizing the need for a fair investigation, the division bench also questioned how, based on the current circumstances and facts, the state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema could be implicated in the case. The court’s direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the chief spokesperson of the Scheduled Caste wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The petitioner has questioned the functioning of the Punjab Police and demanded that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or another independent agency. An FIR in this matter is currently registered at the Didba police station in Sangrur district. The case has been filed under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, naming five local residents, including the village sarpanch. According to the petition, the entire controversy began on September 6th when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited Turbanjara village in Sangrur to lay the foundation stone for development projects. During this event, Gulzar Singh expressed his anguish over his son’s drug addiction and directly questioned the minister about the spread of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) in the area. It is alleged that following this incident, police personnel arrived at Gulzar Singh’s home that evening and questioned him. Following this, the panchayat members threatened him and used casteist slurs against him. On September 7th, the Panchayat reportedly summoned Gulzar Singh and put him under intense pressure to apologize unconditionally to the minister. Hurt by this humiliation and pressure, he consumed poison. The next day, on September 8th, he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana. His family alleges that the administration hastily cremated his body without their consent. The family and the petitioner claim that Gulzar Singh, in his video-recorded dying declaration, had blamed Minister Cheema and the village sarpanch for his death. This incident has created a major political storm across Punjab. The Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Shiromani Akali Dal have united and are continuously demanding the resignation of Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Recently, Congress leaders organized a large protest march towards the minister’s residence in Chandigarh, which the police had to disperse using water cannons. Meanwhile, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Kishore Makwana also visited Sangrur and met with the victim’s family, assuring them of justice. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
TDP Internal Rift Exposed: Dalit leader alleges kidnap threat in Kurnool
Kurnool: Internal friction within the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took a serious turn in Chippagiri mandal on Wednesday, following allegations by a grassroots Dalit party leader, Anand, that he was threatened with abuse and kidnapping by Teja, son-in-law of TDP mandal convenor Konda Purushotham. According to the complainant, Teja allegedly placed an abusive phone call warning him against interfering with Purushotham, reportedly stating, “You have crossed the limit. I will take you away,” while invoking his familial ties to the mandal convenor. An audio recording of the conversation has quickly circulated across social media platforms, intensifying ripples through local political circles. The episode has drawn sharp focus to the party’s internal treatment of Dalit leaders, particularly against the backdrop of earlier political clashes where cases had been registered against Dalit individuals. The controversy has placed intense pressure on the Chippagiri TDP leadership to address the growing factional friction. Anand and his supporters have formally sought the intervention of senior party leaders, demanding an impartial inquiry and appropriate disciplinary action. Local residents and party workers have expressed deep concern over how a party member could face such intimidation from within the same political organization, prompting local police to initiate inquiries into the matter as political tensions mount across the mandal. Narendra Kr Varikuntla Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UP: Man arrested for repeatedly raping a Dalit woman by making obscene videos and blackmailing her
Sigra Police take major action: Manoj Maurya, accused of repeatedly raping a Dalit woman by blackmailing her with obscene videos, arrested; case registered under SC/ST Act. Varanasi/UP: Sigra police on Tuesday arrested 28-year-old Manoj Maurya for repeatedly raping and blackmailing a 22-year-old Dalit woman. The accused faces serious charges, including making obscene videos and threatening her with dire consequences. Police have registered a case in this matter under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as the SC/ST Act. Sigra Police Station in-charge Shivanand Mishra said on Tuesday that this significant arrest was made based on a tip-off. In fact, the accused Manoj had come under police radar since the victim’s complaint. In her complaint to the police, the woman stated that the accused had physical relations with her and deceitfully recorded an obscene video. According to the victim, the accused was continuously physically and mentally abusing her, threatening to make the video viral on the internet. Furthermore, he used casteist slurs against the victim and her family members. He also threatened to kill the rape victim and her entire family. Police officials stated that immediate action was taken due to the sensitivity of the case. After an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the BNS and SC/ST Acts, police teams immediately began action. Police raided several locations and finally arrested the accused, Manoj Maurya, a resident of Manduadih. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
TM Impact: Dalit woman cook receives pending salary, theft complaint withdrawn; both parties reach agreement
On published a report based on Sheetal’s complaint. The report highlighted Sheetal’s allegations against the cafe owner and a serving female constable of the Delhi Police. Sheetal made several allegations, including withholding of salary, caste-based harassment, and alleged use of police influence. New Delhi: The case of a Dalit woman cook in the Moti Nagar area of the capital, who was not paid her pending salary after complaining about the poor quality of food at a restaurant, and the cafe owner filing a police case against her, accusing her of theft, has been resolved. After published a report on the complaint and allegations made by Dalit woman cook Sheetal Singh, swift action was taken in the matter. According to Sheetal, a written agreement was reached between the two parties in the presence of police at the Moti Nagar police station on the evening of September 14. The cafe paid her pending salary, while the cafe owner gave written consent to withdraw the theft complaint against Sheetal. Sheetal has also withdrawn her complaint. Sheetal informed The Mooknayak of the entire incident. According to her, both parties have now agreed in writing that they will not pursue any further legal action or complaints against each other. This immediate resolution was possible only because of The Mooknayak’s prompt reporting and support. Sheetal stated that the immediate resolution of the matter was possible after the report was published and the incident was made public. She expressed gratitude to The Mooknayak, saying that the report helped her voice her concerns. Reported being called to the police station in the morning, but events changed after the report was published. Previously, Sheetal had told The Mooknayak that she was receiving repeated phone calls asking her to come to the police station in connection with a theft case. She claimed that she was demanding her pending salary, and that theft charges were filed against her. The Mooknayak had published a report based on Sheetal’s complaint in this same case. The report highlighted Sheetal’s allegations against the cafe owner and a serving female constable of the Delhi Police. Sheetal had made several allegations, including withholding of salary, caste-based harassment, and alleged use of influence by her police position. After the report was published, Sheetal stated that the case was closed with the consent of both parties in the presence of an SI at the Moti Nagar police station. According to Sheetal, the police took written statements from both parties. These statements stated that the outstanding amount of ₹17,741 had been paid and the dispute had been resolved. Sheetal told The Mooknayak that the cafe owner had agreed in writing to withdraw the theft complaint and settle the matter through a compromise. Following this settlement at the police station, both parties agreed not to file any further complaints or take any legal action against each other. Sheetal stated that she believes no proceedings are pending from either side. While providing details of the incident, Sheetal also mentioned that during the proceedings, a person from the local Dalit community had also reached the police station to intervene. According to Sheetal, when asked for CCTV footage from the cafe to verify the claims of theft and alleged cash payments, the management stated that the cameras were not working. Sheetal’s original complaint alleged that she worked at the cafe for a monthly salary of ₹22,000, withheld wages, caste discrimination, and alleged intimidation. The complaint also stated that after she demanded her salary, the cafe owner filed a complaint against her for stealing pulses, oil, and coffee pouches. Following the settlement, Sheetal told The Mooknayak that the immediate resolution of the case was possible after the publication of the report and the publicity of the matter. She expressed gratitude to The Mooknayak, saying that the report helped her voice her voice. Sheetal also said that her experience made her realize that workers from the Scheduled Caste community, even those with weaker economic backgrounds, can face pressure and police complaints for demanding their wages. What was the whole controversy? Sheetal Singh, a Scheduled Caste woman cook working at Vidhi Cafe in Moti Nagar, Delhi, made serious allegations against the cafe’s owner, Vijay Singh, and Divya, a female constable with the Delhi Police. According to Sheetal, she was hired as the head cook at a monthly salary of ₹22,000 and had objected to the alleged use of spoiled/stale food and palm oil in the cafe. She alleged that after her caste was revealed, her treatment changed, and she was forced to perform tasks such as sweeping, deep cleaning, and washing dirty utensils late into the night, in addition to cooking. Sheetal also alleged that her ₹22,000 salary was withheld, and when she quit her job to demand her dues, a complaint was filed against her for stealing pulses, oil, and coffee sachets, even though she was challenging her claim of alleged cash payment. She accused female constable Divya of being associated with the cafe and using her police position to threaten her. Sheetal demanded action, security, and payment of her pending salary from the police and administration. After the incident was published in The Mooknayak, according to Sheetal, the police brokered a settlement between the two parties at the Moti Nagar police station. She stated that the pending salary of ₹17,741 was paid, the cafe management confirmed in writing that they had withdrawn the theft complaint, and both parties gave written undertakings not to take any further legal action against each other. Sheetal also stated that she had previously received repeated calls to come to the police station regarding the theft, but after the news was published, the dispute was resolved that same day in the presence of the SI. She also raised questions about the CCTV footage, stating that when she asked for CCTV footage to verify the alleged theft and cash payments, the management claimed the cameras were out of order. All these allegations and events are based on Sheetal’s statement and the