The Allahabad High Court has emphasized that both the Bar and Bench are fundamental to justice and declared that the judicial process cannot tolerate misuse.
The court stressed that strict action must address any attempt to exploit government resources through false cases.
Insights:
The court’s intervention came in response to a petition highlighting a disturbing trend in Prayagraj, where a group of lawyers allegedly involved in fraudulent activities.
The petition accuses these lawyers, allegedly involved in other businesses, of falsely implicating innocent individuals in criminal cases under the SC/ST Act.
The alleged scheme involved using women to falsely accuse people, and then dividing the government compensation among the perpetrators.
Justice Dr. Gautam Chaudhary, in a recent order, mandated a preliminary investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to verify the claims.
The court’s decision followed initial findings from Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and aimed to uncover the truth behind these serious allegations.
The CBI’s involvement has led to a significant development: the closure report of the case filed by Nikki Devi against advocate Bhupendra Pandey.
Following this, the CBI has sought permission from the Special Court in Lucknow to prosecute Nikki Devi, advocate Vinod Shankar Tripathi, and Sudhakar Mishra under Sections 120B and 211 of the Indian Penal Code.
The court has sealed the preliminary report and instructed the Registrar General to review it while ordering SITs to investigate eight specific cases.
During the proceedings, the court revealed that the gang of lawyers had registered numerous false FIRs, mostly in Mauaima, exploiting the SC/ST Act for personal gain. Bhupendra Pandey, who was among those falsely accused, including in a rape case, highlighted the severity of the fraud.
The Allahabad High Court has ordered the SIT to keep investigating these cases and prevent misuse of the judicial process.
The court’s 108-page judgment stressed holding accountable those who manipulate the legal system for personal gain and mandated that district judges expedite trials with filed charge sheets.
Also Read: Allahabad High Court Grants Relief To Trans Woman Facing Harassment In Saharanpur
