Lucknow has witnessed a rare and stern judicial pronouncement, with a special court sentencing advocate Parmanand Gupta to life imprisonment for orchestrating a web of false rape cases under the SC/ST Act, weaponizing the law to settle personal scores.
The court found that Gupta, in collusion with a Dalit woman, fabricated a string of complaints — 18 filed by him and 11 by the woman — to target rivals, often linked to property and personal disputes.
In one case this year, the woman accused two brothers of rape, allegedly at Gupta’s direction, though police later established she was not even present at the scene.
Accomplice acquitted, but warned
While the woman admitted in court that she had been misled and was acquitted, the judge issued a stern caution: any repeat attempt at such misuse would invite strict action.
Heavy blow to legal career
Gupta, who had been in custody for a month, was convicted under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for filing false charges with intent to harm, misleading authorities, and under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act.
In a significant directive, the court ordered the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh to bar him permanently from practicing law or even entering court premises, stressing the need to “uphold the sanctity of the judiciary.”
Judicial warning on systemic abuse
The verdict carried a wider message for law enforcement.
The court asked the Lucknow Police Commissioner to maintain detailed records of repeat complainants in grave offences like rape or gang rape, and urged the use of AI-based tools to detect patterns of false allegations.
Legal experts hailed the ruling as a crucial reminder that while protective laws remain indispensable, their misuse corrodes public trust and threatens the very people they are meant to safeguard.
“This judgment is a turning point,” said a senior advocate. “It underscores that courts will not tolerate the law being turned into a weapon of vengeance.”
