Big Goof-Up! Police Book SC Man For Using ‘Caste Abusive’ Language Under Law Meant To Protect Him In MP’s Gwalior

Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): A Scheduled Caste (SC) man was booked under the SC/ST Act in Gwalior on Tuesday for allegedly using caste-based abusive language against another SC individual.

The case was registered without verifying the caste of the accused.

The error came to light only after the accused informed the police about his caste.

According to information, the case was filed at Thatipur police station after Ajay Soni, also known as Ajay Jatav, a resident of Gautam Nagar, complained that Dinesh Singh Sardar from Karauli Mahal village had shared an audio clip on social media using caste-based slurs and abusing him.

Based on the complaint, police quickly booked Dinesh Singh under sections related to abusive language and the SC/ST Act—without checking his caste background.

The twist...

When Dinesh found out about the case, he went to the police station and told the officers that he is also from the Scheduled Caste community.

He explained that his full name is Dinesh Jatav, but people usually call him Dinesh Singh. This left the police shocked, and the matter was brought to the attention of senior officers.

Additional SP Krishan Lalchandani said that since the complainant mentioned the name as Dinesh Singh, police assumed he belonged to the General or OBC category.

Now, the accused has been asked to submit his caste certificate. Once verified, the SC/ST charges will be removed, and action will be taken under other suitable legal sections.

This case highlights the importance of proper verification before registering serious charges, especially under sensitive laws like the SC/ST Act.