MP News: Supreme Court Quashes Charges Under SC/ST Act Against VYAPAM Whistleblower

Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh): The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed charges of caste-based violence against a whistleblower in the Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM examination scam.

Anand Rai had challenged the Madhya Pradesh high court order upholding the framing of charges in a case of caste-based atrocities arising from alleged violence and abuse against an MP, MLA and government officials during a rally in 2022.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N K Singh pronounced the verdict on a plea of Rai and said, “We have discussed the scope of the SC/ST Act and the action is not in accordance with law. Appeal allowed.” 

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Sumeer Sodhi appeared for Rai, an ophthalmologist from Madhya Pradesh and one of the whistleblowers in the VYAPAM examination scam.

The incident took place on November 15, 2022, at village Dharad in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district during a programme organised on the occasion of Birsa Munda Jayanti for the unveiling of a statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

It was alleged that Rai stopped the vehicles of a MP, an MLA, the collector and other officials. The FIR lodged by a person called Vikas Pargi alleged that a group blocked the road for nearly an hour, abused the lawmakers and engaged in a scuffle with police personnel who attempted to clear the way.

Rai was named among approximately 40-45 persons identified in the FIR and charges were framed against him on March 18, 2025 by the special sessions judge (SC/ST Act) of Ratlam.

On January 13, 2023, the top court granted bail to Rai in connection with the case and subsequently stayed the trial proceedings under the SC/ST Act.