{"id":378755,"date":"2026-03-18T16:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=378755"},"modified":"2026-03-23T09:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T04:22:19","slug":"bombay-hc-sets-aside-16-year-old-case-against-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/03\/18\/bombay-hc-sets-aside-16-year-old-case-against-lawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"Bombay HC sets aside 16-year-old case against lawyer, rules allegations fail to meet IPC and SC\/ST Atrocities Act requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Bombay High Court:<\/span> In a petition under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519791\" target=\"_blank\">482<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/a> (CrPC), seeking quashing of an FIR registered under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561633\" target=\"_blank\">324<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">Penal Code, 1860<\/a> (IPC) and Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">x<\/span>) and (<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">xi<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989<\/a> (SC\/ST Atrocities Act), a Single Judge Bench of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Ashwin D. Bhobe<\/span>, J., held that the allegations in the FIR, even if taken at face value, did not disclose the ingredients of the offences alleged. The Court noted that no caste-based humiliation in public view was alleged, the injury described was simple in nature and not caused by a dangerous weapon, and that repeated FIRs suggested mala fide intent. Accordingly, applying the principles laid down in <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Haryana<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Bhajan Lal<\/span>,<span style=\"font-style: italic;\"><\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/9806D3qv\" target=\"_blank\">1992 Supp (1) SCC 335<\/a>, the Court quashed the FIR and charge-sheet to prevent abuse of process of law.<\/p>\n<h3>Background<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The case arose from a statement dated 2 July 2010 alleging that on 27 June 2007, at Siddharth Law College, the petitioner hurled abuses, claimed the respondent possessed bogus certificates, and assaulted her with an umbrella causing injuries. Based on this, an FIR was registered under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561633\" target=\"_blank\">324<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a> and provisions of the SC\/ST Atrocities Act.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The petitioner contended that the complaint was false, malicious, and motivated by revenge, pointing to two earlier cases under the SC\/ST Atrocities Act where he had been acquitted and discharged. He argued that the respondent misused the provisions of the SC\/ST Atrocities Act to harass him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The State submitted that the FIR was registered upon receipt of the statement, investigation was conducted, and charge-sheet filed. However, the respondent acknowledged that the FIR did not reveal caste-based humiliation under Section 3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">s<\/span>), but argued that abusive language and threats invoked Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">r<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">SC\/ST Atrocities Act<\/a>. It was further submitted that the assault constituted an offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(2)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">va<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">SC\/ST Atrocities Act<\/a>, and that the petitioner&#8217;s intention was to outrage modesty under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561668\" target=\"_blank\">354<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Analysis and Decision<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court emphasised that the FIR and the material collected on record did not reveal the ingredients for an offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">s<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">SC\/ST Atrocities Act<\/a>. The Court noted that to attract Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">r<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">SC\/ST Atrocities Act<\/a>, the impugned FIR or material on record needed to show that the petitioner intentionally insulted or intimidated the respondent (a member of a Scheduled Caste), and that he did so with the intent to humiliate the respondent at a place within public view.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Keshaw Mahto<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Bihar<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/Pwt7mkWW\" target=\"_blank\">2025 SCC OnLine Pat 1402<\/a>, wherein the Supreme Court observed that the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">r<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">SC\/ST Atrocities Act<\/a>, cannot stand merely on the fact that the informant\/complainant is a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, unless the insult or intimidation is with the intention to humiliate such a member of the community. The Supreme Court further held that mere knowledge of the petitioner that the respondent is a member of the Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe is not enough to invoke Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001551147\" target=\"_blank\">3(1)(<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">r<\/span>)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002828505\" target=\"_blank\">SC\/ST Atrocities Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further emphasised that the allegations in the impugned FIR, taken at face value, do not meet the ingredients of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561633\" target=\"_blank\">324<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a>, further the respondent had also stated that the injury caused was simple in nature. It was also noted that, regardless of the reasons the respondent filed the complaints against the petitioner, on two previous occasions the respondent made allegations against the petitioner invoking provisions of the SC\/ST Atrocities Act similar to those in the impugned FIR, however, the petitioner was acquitted in one case and discharged in another, which is not disputed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court relied on <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Mahmood Ali<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of U.P.<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/Urfgkis1\" target=\"_blank\">(2023) 15 SCC 488<\/a>, where it was held that the registration of multiple FIRs assumes importance, thereby attracting the issue of wreaking vengeance out of private or personal grudge as alleged, and therefore it will not be just enough for the Court to look into the averments made in the FIR\/complaint alone for the purpose of ascertaining whether the necessary ingredients to constitute the alleged offence are disclosed or not.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further referred to <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Bhajan Lal<\/span> (supra) wherein the Supreme Court observed that where the allegations made in the FIR or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety, do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused, then the inherent powers under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519791\" target=\"_blank\">482<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court emphasised that the present case in hand falls within the principles established in <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Bhajan Lal<\/span> (supra) for exercising powers under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519791\" target=\"_blank\">482<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> to quash the impugned FIR and the charge-sheet arising from it, to prevent abuse of the process of law. Accordingly, the Court thereby quashed the impugned FIR and charge-sheet while allowing the petition with no orders as to cost.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Virendranath B. Tiwari<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Maharashtra<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/G9xSQP3u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 SCC OnLine Bom 2007<\/a>, decided on 16-3-2026<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the Petitioner:<\/span> Virendranath B. Tiwari<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the Respondents:<\/span> Rizwan Merchant a\/w Uma Nemlekar, Saurabh Godbole i\/b Sahil Mahajan, Sukanta Karmakar, APP<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Code of Criminal Procedure\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Penal Code, 1860 &nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"penal code, 1860\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;To attract Section 3(1)(r), Atrocities Act, the FIR or material on record needed to show that the petitioner intentionally insulted or intimidated the respondent and that he did so with the intent to humiliate the respondent at a place within public view.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67537,"featured_media":378767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[2569,100800,100801,76315,100799,21114,16171,100798],"class_list":["post-378755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-Bombay_High_Court","tag-caste-based-humiliation","tag-ingredients-not-fulfilled","tag-justice-ashwin-d-bhobe","tag-mala-fide-prosecution","tag-quashing-of-fir","tag-scheduled-castes-and-scheduled-tribes-prevention-of-atrocities-act","tag-section-324-ipc"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Bombay HC sets aside 16-year-old case against lawyer | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bombay High Court quashes a 16-year-old FIR against a lawyer, ruling that the allegations failed to establish offences under IPC or the SC\/ST Act and highlighting mala fide intent behind the prosecution.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/03\/18\/bombay-hc-sets-aside-16-year-old-case-against-lawyer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bombay HC sets aside 16-year-old case against lawyer, rules allegations fail to meet IPC and SC\/ST Atrocities Act requirements\" \/>\n<meta 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