IIT Bombay Investigation: APPSC Fears Sahil Wakode’s Case Will Follow the Same Fate as Ambhore and Solanki, “Conclusion Already Decided”
Student Group Alleges Inquiry Committees Follow a “Template,” Always Clean Chit to the Institute of Caste Discrimination Mumbai – The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), a student group at IIT Bombay, believes that the institute’s internal investigation into Sahil Wakode’s death has already concluded. According to the group, like the cases of Aniket Ambhore and Darshan Solanki, this case will also be considered to have no caste discrimination. The group alleged that the institute investigates the deaths of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students according to a set “template.” It called Wakode’s death an “institutional death” and reiterated its demand for an independent, external investigation. In a statement on Sunday, the group cited the reports of two previous internal committees. The student group stated that a committee headed by Professor A.K. Suresh was formed after Aniket Ambhore’s suicide. According to the group, its report (page 24) concluded that the institute and its official bodies did not discriminate, either explicitly or implicitly. The committee headed by Professor Nand Kishore, formed to investigate Darshan Solanki’s death, stated in its report (page 6) that none of the people interviewed—friends, wingmates, teachers, TAs, mentors, and Hostel 16 staff—mentioned caste-based or any other discrimination. Neither Solanki himself nor any of his friends mentioned this. The APPSC stated that these findings reflect a pattern rather than an independent investigation, “a template is set and the conclusions are predetermined.” Questioning the functioning of the inquiry committees, the group stated, “These committees are formed by the Board of Governors and work in coordination to quickly rule out caste-based discrimination.” The group alleges that they operate in isolation, within a well-designed institutional framework, and consistently draw the same limited sample and ultimately exonerate the institution of all charges. The statement describes these ad hoc committees as “placeholders for institutional inertia.” The group also commented on the committees’ social composition. According to it, their members are not separate from the country’s social fabric, and caste does not exist for them because it is not an intimate experience of their lives. The group argues that this blanket denial of discrimination reveals how caste privilege masks inequality within the institution. The Students’ Collective argues that investigations demand evidence of “clear acts of caste aggression.” This reduces a multi-layered and nuanced phenomenon to a narrow set of criteria. According to the group, this places the burden of proof on the person least capable of doing so, as dominant groups define “intent” and “overt act.” The group also raised three questions about campus preparations: Have those with authority over students fresh out of school received caste sensitivity training? Is there a system in place to identify and bridge the gap in social and material status among peers? Why should SC/ST students be burdened with creating a safe and inclusive environment, when they already bear the double burden of proving merit, grappling with the “stigma of quotas,” and constantly being wary of their caste identity? What are the Supreme Court’s directives? The statement said that the Supreme Court’s guidelines in the case of Sukadeb Saha v. State of Andhra Pradesh and others are binding on every educational institution in the country from July 25, 2025. These require: Written protocols for immediate referral to mental health services. Twice-yearly training of staff to recognize warning signs. Dedicated mentors, especially during examination periods. The group states that the IIT Bombay administration is guilty on many of these counts, but is vulnerable to acquittal at every turn due to institutional apathy and the “dominance of caste-blind forces.” The statement questions the image of IITs as destinations for the country’s brightest minds. According to the group, rankings and research output create an image of a “smooth-flowing machinery of academic production,” while the merit that is celebrated is “upper caste dominance couched in the language of modernity and castelessness.” The group alleges that the system implicitly requires students to be upper caste, while the space for disadvantaged students is “limited and restricted.” According to it, acknowledging caste discrimination would be detrimental to the notions of post-colonial modernity and merit that privileged castes celebrate. Citing RTI data, it stated that as of September this year, out of 412 professors at IIT Bombay, only 5 are from the SC and 6 from the OBC categories, while there is no professor from the ST community. According to the group, this demonstrates that knowledge production is limited to a specific segment of society. Citing the institute’s motto, “Gyanam Param Dhyeyam,” the student collective also stated that the institute’s knowledge production process is an “echo chamber of upper-caste-disseminated knowledge,” making it devoid of diversity. The Students Collective states that IITs are designated as “Institutes of National Importance” under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961. Citing scholar Jayaram (2011), it states that these institutions operate autonomously and have largely been free from government or political interference. According to the group, it is time to subject IITs to close scrutiny and open dialogue among stakeholders and civil society. It described the institute’s “caste amnesia” as “ridiculous and violent.” The statement also said that IITs have long been free from student politics, which should be condemned in a democratic framework. The group claims that the aim of these institutes is to produce an “obedient, caste-blind, and efficient workforce.” Referring to the Wakode case, the APPSC said that the same institutional indifference persists here, and the “falsity” of IIT excellence and reputation remains unchallenged. The group reiterated its demands, demanding an external and independent investigation without institutional interference or “unconditional support” for the accused. They demanded that the committee be chaired by a person from the SC/ST community and include at least one external expert member to ensure a fair investigation. The committee should have at least 50% SC/ST representation and at least 50% women members from various disciplines. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
A Dalit woman (VOA) was slapped, dragged by her hair, and thrown to the ground during a village council meeting in Telangana; an FIR was filed against the Congress leader under the SC/ST Act.
Dalit organizations strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action against Amarnath Goud. MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga strongly condemned the incident and called for a massive road blockade at the Chintapalli mandal headquarters. Nalgonda: A shameful incident of a Dalit woman being publicly assaulted during a village council meeting on October 2nd occurred in PK Mallepally village, Chintapalli mandal, Nalgonda district, Telangana. Local Congress leader Amarnath Goud (Kappula Amarnath) assaulted, mistreated, and verbally abused the woman during a dispute over women’s savings group funds on the village panchayat office premises. The victim, Ganipalli Madhavi (30), wife of Abbaiah, belongs to the Scheduled Caste (Madiga) community. She had been working as the village’s Village Organization Assistant (VOA) for the past eight years and was removed from the position four months earlier. On the day of the incident, she was participating in a discussion with women from the Samabhavana Sangham (women’s savings group). Amarnath Gaud also arrived at the Gram Sabha and began an argument with Madhavi over an old rivalry and the savings group’s funds. He used casteist slurs, slapped Madhavi, dragged her by her hair, threw her to the ground, and kicked and punched her. This all happened near the Gram Panchayat office in the presence of villagers, which escalated tensions at the scene. The victim recounted her ordeal to the police, saying, “Amarnath asked, ‘Who are you? Why have you come to the Gram Sabha? We removed you. What’s the point of coming here? Why have you come?” She continued, “They slapped me, dragged me by my hair, threw me to the ground, and trampled me. They humiliated me in front of so many people. They’ve been harassing me for three months. They targeted me because I asked for money. No one provided justice. They’re mentally harassing me, pushing me to suicide. I have two young children. Whatever they did, it was completely malicious.” Madhavi filed a complaint at the Chintapalli police station around 6 p.m. that same day. Police registered an FIR under Crime No. 172/2026. It includes sections 74, 115(2), and 352 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015. Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. Videos of the incident are going viral on social media. Dalit organizations strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action against Amarnath Goud. Madiga Reservation Protest Committee (MRPS) leader Manda Krishna Madiga strongly condemned the incident and called for a massive road blockade at the Chintapalli divisional headquarters. The protesters staged a sit-in on the road, completely halting vehicular traffic in the divisional headquarters. They demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and justice for the victim. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy; Hindi News
Transgender men dressed as sari were extorting money from a BMW owner; police arrested four after scanning CCTV.
Four men, dressed as eunuchs, were threatening a BMW owner and demanding 5,000 rupees. After the video surfaced, police scanned CCTV footage and arrested the four men. Hyderabad: In India, you’re likely to encounter transgressors at red lights. They often appear in groups of 4-6. As soon as the light turns red, they approach stopped vehicles and demand money from people. Believing that a transgressor’s blessings will never go unanswered, people often give them money. Sometimes, they refuse to pay and move on. This often leads to a fight. However, it’s not necessary that the person you’re giving money to is a transgressor. Sometimes, men are also disguised as transgressors. One such case has come to light in Hyderabad, where police have arrested four men dressed as sari men disguised as transgressors. On August 21st, they demanded money and threatened a BMW owner. These four men are accused of dressing up as women and threatening a BMW owner, demanding ₹5,000 from him. Jubilee Hills police in Hyderabad have arrested four men. They are accused of stopping a BMW owner near True Black Coffee on Road No. 45 on August 21st and demanding ₹5,000 from him. The incident came to light after a video of the confrontation was posted on social media. Following instructions from senior police officers, investigators examined nearly 500 CCTV cameras and traced the suspects’ movements from Jubilee Hills to Boduppal. The four accused have been arrested. The accused have been identified as Ramesh (40), Satyanarayana (41), Ramesh (42), and Yadagiri (44); all residents of Boduppal, Hyderabad. Investigators allege that the four men would masquerade as transgender individuals and stop drivers and extort money. Police also reported that they would visit housewarming ceremonies and newly opened shops to demand money. With the help of a task force, the four were arrested and later remanded to judicial custody. The investigation is ongoing. Reported by: Ashish Pandey, Edited by: Prabhanshu Ranjan Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Woman Delivers Baby On Road After Being Denied Hospital Admission In UP; Doctor Sacked
UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the portfolio of the in-charge of the health department, took serious note of the issue after the video surfaced. The mother and the newborn were later admitted to the hospital. | Image for representation A 20-year-old woman from a Dalit community gave birth to a baby in a public place outside a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi after she was denied admission to the health centre. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, prompting action against the on-duty doctor and other staff. Family Helps Woman Deliver Baby By Roadside The incident took place outside Maharaja Chet Singh District Hospital in Gyanpur. Rani was taken to the hospital on Tuesday night after she went into labour. Her family alleged that hospital staff refused to admit her after identifying her as belonging to the Musahar community. As they were leaving the hospital, Rani’s condition deteriorated and her family helped her deliver the baby outside the facility. Following the incident, CMO Dr SK Chak ordered an inquiry and ensured that Rani and her newborn were admitted to the hospital. 4-Member Panel Formed A four-member panel subsequently found lapses in the handling of the case. EMO Dr Pankaj, who was on duty when Rani arrived, was sacked after the inquiry found that he referred her without examining her. Staff nurse Neelam Maurya was transferred, while the salary of obstetrician Dr Mukesh Prajapati was withheld. The inquiry also recommended state-level action against CMS Dr Ajay Tiwari and Dr Neelima Dhawan. The report said Dhawan had examined Rani a day earlier but referred her elsewhere despite her severe anaemia. The CMS was also held negligent. Dr Prajapati was away from the district and arrived about 90 minutes later. The nurse was also accused of refusing admission while referring to the family as Musahar. Published By : Manisha Roy About the Author Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international developments. Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UP: SP Focuses on Dalit Votes! A Major Dalit Conference in Agra on November 15th, Akhilesh Yadav to Be Chief Guest
Agra News: Ahead of the 2027 Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party will hold a major Dalit conference in Western Uttar Pradesh on November 15th at the GIC Grounds in Agra. Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief guest. Sunil Saket, Agra: Ahead of the 2027 Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party has intensified its efforts to strengthen its political base among Dalit voters in Western Uttar Pradesh. As part of this strategy, a major Dalit conference in Western Uttar Pradesh is being held on November 15th at the GIC Grounds in Agra. SP National President Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief guest. The party is preparing to mobilize a large number of workers and supporters from various districts of Western Uttar Pradesh for the conference. Recent reports have also confirmed the Agra conference on November 15th and Akhilesh Yadav’s presence. SP National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman held a press conference on Saturday regarding the preparations for the conference. He said that from Agra, a message will be sent to politically unite the Dalit community in western Uttar Pradesh. The SP’s strategy is to strengthen the PDA (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) social equation. This effort by the party comes at a time when all major parties are busy balancing social equations for the 2027 assembly elections. “BJP is a communal party” Ramji Lal Suman, targeting the BJP and RSS, said that a large number of people in western Uttar Pradesh are opposed to the RSS’s ideology. Calling the BJP a communal party, he said that those who want to remove the BJP from power are joining the SP. He said that issues such as the rights, reservation, employment, and social respect of the Dalit community will be prominently raised through the conference. Suman accused the government of working towards weakening reservation. He also raised the issue of the lack of government jobs and recruitment through outsourcing. Referring to incidents of damage to statues of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, he claimed that 151 statues of Baba Saheb have been vandalized recently, but the government has not taken any action against them. This figure of 151 statues damaged was also recently claimed by the Samajwadi Party. A Look at the BSP’s Political Base The SP’s strategy also reflects an attempt to reach out to the BSP’s traditional Dalit base. Suman also launched a political attack on the BSP and Mayawati, and spoke of the SP’s increasing acceptance among Dalit voters. He said that the BSP’s vote share, which was 30 percent in the last two assembly elections, has now dropped to 9 percent. The choice of Agra for the conference also has a political message. The party is trying to reach out to Dalit voters in Western Uttar Pradesh and integrate the PDA equation into the election campaign. The November 15 conference will be a major public platform for this strategy. Recent reports have also described the conference as an attempt to expand the SP’s reach among Dalit voters. What did he say about the Deputy CM’s statement? Regarding the Deputy Chief Minister’s statement on Akhilesh Yadav, Suman said that he did not want to respond to the statements of smaller leaders. He said that the SP will contest the 2027 elections based on its strategy and organization, and that the Dalit conference to be held in Agra will prove to be historic. However, on the question of crowd gathering, he said that while he has not estimated the crowd size, a large influx of his workers from Western Uttar Pradesh will be expected. Edited by: Devesh Pandey About the Author Devesh Pandey works for Navbharat Times Online. He is a member of NBT’s Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand digital team. Devesh has 9 years of extensive experience in digital, web, and broadcast journalism. He joined Navbharat Times Online in May 2025. Courtesy: Hindi News
Sant Ravidas Yatra is part of BJP’s Dalit outreach program
Multi-state outreach seeks to deepen party connections among Dalit communities before key elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to strengthen its outreach among Dalit voters in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand through the Sant Ravidas Yatra, which was launched across eight states. The fourth phase of the yatra is also set to begin soon. The BJP launched the Sant Ravidas Yatra from Varanasi on July 29, the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, which coincided with Guru Purnima. The yatra has so far passed through states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. A key feature of the yatra is that it has received support not only from Dalit communities but also from people belonging to other sections of society. The Sant Ravidas Yatra will have a total of five phases. The first phase, the Kalash Vandan Abhiyan, was completed from July 29 to August 31 and received a strong response. The second phase was the Sant Sampark Abhiyan, under which the BJP connected around 80,000 saints, sadhus and maths across the country with the yatra. The third phase is the Samrasta Yatra, scheduled from October 5 to November 5. It will begin from Jalandhar in Punjab. The yatra is being viewed as being directly linked to the Punjab elections. The fourth phase will be the Chhatrawas Sampark Abhiyan, scheduled from November 26 to January 15. To prepare the plan for this phase, the yatra’s coordinator and BJP national vicepresident Lalsingh Arya has convened a meeting in Delhi on October 9. The fifth and final phase of the yatra will continue until February 20. Religious and cultural programmes will be organised during this period, with the yatra concluding in Varanasi on February 20. There is a possibility that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself may attend the concluding ceremony in Varanasi. Varanasi is also his parliamentary constituency. The objective of the Sant Ravidas Yatra was to connect Dalits with the BJP. Punjab has a 33 per cent Dalit population, the highest in the country, while Dalits account for around 22 per cent of the population in Uttar Pradesh. A large section of these votes has traditionally gone to Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BJP is focusing on this Dalit vote. Sources said the BSP has continued to receive 12 to 14 per cent of the Dalit vote in Uttar Pradesh even in its weakest electoral phases. According to sources, the BJP initially planned the Sant Ravidas Yatra with Dalit voters in Punjab in mind. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were later included in the yatra’s programme. By: Sanjay Sharma Courtesy : TSG Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesundayguardian.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
NHRC team to visit Kendrapara on October 5 over Dalit sarpanch ‘assault’
The NHRC took cognisance of the complaint and directed its registry to forward a copy to the district magistrate, and the superintendent of police seeking an inquiry and a report. KENDRAPARA: A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will visit Kendrapara on October 5 to conduct an inquiry into the alleged assault and mistreatment of Tikhiri gram panchayat sarpanch Chameli Ojha (33), a Dalit woman, three months ago. Ojha, the sarpanch of the panchayat under Mahakalapada block, was allegedly assaulted and manhandled by police and the block development officer (BDO) of Mahakalapada on June 11 after she raised allegations of corruption against officials, according to the complaint. The NHRC team will conduct a spot inquiry and examine officials, eyewitnesses, police personnel and other persons connected with the case. The commission has informed the Kendrapara collector and superintendent of police about the visit, Collector Raghuram R Iyer said on Friday. Earlier, Human Rights Front (HRF) India chairperson, Manoj Jena filed a petition before the NHRC on July 14, alleging that Ojha had been falsely implicated in a case registered on the complaint of the Mahakalapada BDO under charges including attempt to murder, causing hurt and obstruction of a public servant. The NHRC took cognisance of the complaint and directed its registry to forward a copy to the district magistrate, and the superintendent of police seeking an inquiry and a report. The SP submitted a report to the commission on June 27, stating that three FIRs had been registered in the matter and that they were cross-cases. Ojha had earlier written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi alleging that officials were hindering development works in her gram panchayat by withholding payments to persons who had executed tasks. In her letter, she alleged that she had gone to the BDO’s office on June 11 to request clearance of pending bills, but the BDO and others abused her. She further alleged that the police assaulted and misbehaved with her inside a vehicle while taking her to the police station. Ashis Senapati 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
SP MP discusses preparations for Dalit convention: Arrives in Pinahat for November 15th event in Agra
Samajwadi Party National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman arrived in Pinahat on Saturday evening to discuss preparations for the Dalit convention to be held in Agra on November 15th. The MP met with local party workers and villagers to inquire about the program’s outline and arrangements. During the meeting, the SP MP urged party workers to ensure maximum participation of the public and supporters. The workers welcomed him and pledged to make the convention a success. Senior leader Harishankar Sharma, Vice President Sudhir Dubey, Ramsanehi, Sonu Tomar, Vijay Singh Pradhan, Suraj Bhan, Arvind, and Nand Kishore, along with several prominent party workers, were present. Sumit Sharma | Pinahat (Agra), Agra Courtesy: Hindi News
Punjab: The family of a Dalit youth had been protesting for five days over his death; the police forcibly seized his body and performed his last rites.
In Sangrur, Punjab, the police removed the family members who had been protesting for five days and performed the last rites of the Dalit youth without their consent. The Aam Aadmi Party Sarpanch is accused of harassment. Punjab: Serious allegations have been leveled against the police in the case of a 23-year-old Dalit youth’s suicide at Sangrur Civil Hospital on Thursday. The family alleges that the police forcibly removed them from the mortuary and conducted the post-mortem and cremation in their absence. The deceased has been identified as Sanamdeep Singh, a mason by profession and a resident of Kanoi village. Sanamdeep consumed poison on September 25th and died a day later on September 26th. The family had kept the body in the hospital mortuary for the past five days, demanding justice. They were staging an indefinite sit-in protest, refusing to conduct a post-mortem or accept the body until the village sarpanch and his associates, affiliated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), were arrested. Sanamdeep’s uncle, Gora Singh, has leveled several serious allegations against the administration and the sarpanch. He stated that an FIR was filed against the sarpanch in 2019 based on Sanamdeep’s complaint. Gora Singh alleges that a false FIR was also filed against seven members of his family five months ago to pressure him into withdrawing the same case. The deceased was constantly subjected to mental harassment. Even when a sewer line was laid in the village, four of his houses were deliberately left out, and Sanamdeep was denied work under MNREGA. Tensions escalated further on Thursday afternoon when police and administration teams arrived to clear the entrance to the mortuary. The family alleges that the police brutalized them. Sanamdeep’s mother and grandmother were dragged into a police van and the funeral was forcibly performed without the family’s consent. According to Gora Singh, they were peacefully demanding justice and the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He alleges that the police broke their promises, used excessive force, manhandled women, and, in collusion with municipal corporation employees, secretly cremated the body. He also said that the entire village was turned into a cantonment as if they were dealing with terrorists. Amidst this commotion, the police arrested Congress official Rajinder Singh Deepa and three others from Sunam. They are accused of attacking policemen, damaging public property, and obstructing government work. They were produced in court and sent to judicial custody. In addition, the police detained eight members of Sandeep’s family and four others, although no FIR was filed against them. On behalf of the police, Sangrur DSP Dalbir Singh Sidhu defended the entire action. He said that the body had begun to decompose severely, forcing the administration to take this drastic step. The senior medical officer had issued several notices warning that the body was rapidly decomposing. Section 301 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) makes it a crime to insult or leave a dead body in a deplorable state. Executive Magistrate-cum-Tehsildar Jagdeep Singh and health officials issued several notices to the family, but they refused to accept them due to political incitement. DSP Sidhu clarified that on September 28, based on a complaint from Sandeep’s father, an FIR had already been registered at the Sangrur Sadar police station under sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 3(5) of the IPC. Despite this, Deepa and other outsiders used the family as a pawn for political gain and insisted on arbitrary arrests before the post-mortem. According to the police, when they initiated the legal process, the protesters became violent, hurling abuses, breaking bus windows, and attacking officers. Police had to use mild force to disperse the crowd. A board of three medical officers eventually conducted a post-mortem examination, and the young man’s last rites were performed at the crematorium on Ubhawal Road in the presence of municipal officials and some panchayat representatives. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Sending obscene videos on WhatsApp also falls within the scope of ‘public view’: Bombay High Court’s decision in SC/ST Act case, no anticipatory bail for accused
The accused contacted a woman and demanded physical relations. When she refused, he sent an obscene video made on his mobile phone to her husband and close relatives via WhatsApp. Nagpur – The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a government employee from Ghughus (Chandrapur district) in an SC/ST Act case. Justice Y.G. Khobragade issued the order on September 29. The case relates to the posting of obscene videos and photos of a married woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste on social media. The case pertains to Criminal Appeal No. 127/2026, in which the accused is Nikhil, son of Madhukar Thepale (28 years old). He is in government service and lives near the Sneh Prabha Mangal office in Ward No. 3 of Ghughus. Advocate Mahesh Rai appeared for the accused, while Additional Public Prosecutor G.S. appeared for the state. Umale and the victim’s lawyer, Sanket Joshi, appeared. According to the prosecution, the victim is a married woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste. The accused and the victim live in the same area and are known to each other. It is alleged that on November 4, 2025, the accused contacted the woman and demanded physical relations. When the woman refused, he sent an obscene video made on his mobile phone to the woman’s husband and close relatives via WhatsApp. According to the FIR, nude photos were also sent to the woman’s sister-in-law from an unknown mobile number. The woman’s sister also received calls and WhatsApp messages from the accused’s mobile number, stating that he wanted to speak with her. In the FIR, the woman has listed the mobile numbers of her husband, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and the accused. On November 5, 2025, a case was registered at the Ghughus police station under sections 77 and 78 of the Indian Penal Code, 2023, sections 66(E) and 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(w)(ii), and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The accused initially sought anticipatory bail in the lower court, which was rejected. Subsequently, he filed Criminal Appeal No. 599/2025 in the High Court. On February 9, 2026, he withdrew this appeal with the concession that he could file a new application after the charge sheet was filed. The accused then filed Anticipatory Bail Application (ABA) No. 73/2026. On February 21, 2026, the Special Judge (Atrocities Act) and Additional Sessions Judge of Chandrapur rejected this application. The accused approached the High Court for the second time against this same order. On March 12, 2026, the High Court granted interim relief and temporary anticipatory bail on certain conditions. The accused submitted a bond and sureties in the lower court. The charge sheet in the case has now been filed. The accused stated that the SC/ST Act does not apply if the victim is merely sent via WhatsApp. Advocate Rai stated that according to the FIR, the accused demanded sexual intercourse and, after being refused, sent videos and photos to her husband and relatives. According to him, merely sending the sexual favors via WhatsApp does not constitute offenses under Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(w)(ii), and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act, and therefore, the bar on anticipatory bail under Section 18 of the Act does not apply. He argued that the lower court’s order was passed without considering the facts and law, and therefore, it should be set aside. Additional Public Prosecutor Umale, representing the state, and Advocate Joshi, representing the victim, strongly opposed the appeal. The prosecution stated: The accused has been absconding since the FIR was filed. The accused knew the victim’s caste. The incriminating videos and photos are stored on the accused’s mobile phone, but the mobile phone has not yet been seized. Custodial interrogation is necessary to seize the mobile phone and gather further information. Publicly humiliated the victim by circulating nude photos on the mobile phone after she refused his demand for sexual intercourse. After reviewing the records, Justice Khobragade stated that the accused was well aware of the victim’s caste. She also stated that the accused is not a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, while the victim is a Scheduled Caste. The accused has not denied this fact. The court prima facie held that the accused made nude videos and photos of the woman and circulated them via WhatsApp when his sexual desires were not satisfied. Regarding the absconding of the accused, the court cited Lavesh v. State (NCT of Delhi) (ALL MR (Cri.) 3300) and stated that generally, the question of granting anticipatory bail to a fugitive or proclaimed offender does not arise. The court remarked: “The accused in this case has been absconding since the date of registration of the crime; therefore, in my opinion, he is not entitled to anticipatory bail.” Regarding the argument of “public view,” the court did not accept the argument of the accused’s lawyer that the accused did not publicly insult the victim with caste-related slurs. The court said: “Making objectionable videos/photos of the victim and sending them to her husband, close relatives, and others through social media such as WhatsApp certainly falls within the scope of “public view” within the meaning of Section 3 of the Atrocities Act.” The court cited the Supreme Court’s case of Kiran v. Rajkumar Jivraj Jain (2025 AIR (SC) 4083). According to this, Section 18 of the SC/ST Act bars anticipatory bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for these offenses. The court stated in its own interim order that the interim relief granted on March 12, 2026, was on the grounds that the provisions of the Act were not applicable to the FIR. However, upon reviewing the material now on record, it states: “Prima facie, the essential ingredients of the offenses under Sections 3(1)(w)(ii) and 3(2)(va) appear to be present, as objectionable videos/photos of the victim were circulated on social media from the accused’s mobile phone, which is in the public domain.