The Rajasthan High Court has quashed an FIR lodged against actress Shilpa Shetty under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly using the word “Bhangi” in a 2013 television interview. The complaint, filed in 2017, accused the actress of making remarks that offended the sentiments of the Valmiki community.
Justice Arun Monga, in his order, highlighted procedural lapses and the lack of legal grounds to sustain the case. The court observed:
“In light of the absence of essential ingredients for offenses under Section 153A IPC, the failure to adhere to mandatory procedural requirements under Section 196 Cr.P.C., and the lack of applicability of the SC/ST Act, the FIR is patently illegal and deserves to be quashed. The allegations neither substantiate the statutory elements of the cited offenses nor provide any basis for criminal proceedings against the Petitioner.”
The complaint, filed by Ashok Panwar, alleged that Shetty and actor Salman Khan used the word “Bhangi” in an interview, causing distress to the Valmiki community. The FIR was registered on December 22, 2017—over three years after the interview aired.
Counsel for Shetty argued that the delay in lodging the FIR rendered it untenable, citing established legal principles that require prompt reporting unless the delay is justifiably explained. They also contended that the remarks did not exhibit intent to humiliate anyone based on caste, making the SC/ST Act inapplicable.
The court concluded that the allegations lacked substance and did not meet the statutory criteria for the offenses charged. As a result, the FIR was quashed, bringing the matter to a close.
This ruling underscores the importance of adhering to procedural and statutory requirements in criminal proceedings, particularly in cases involving allegations of caste-based offenses.
