<p>New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed charges of caste-based violence against a Congress leader and a whistleblower in the Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM examination scam.</p><p>A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh provided the relief to Anand Rai after hearing senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Sumeer Sodhi on his behalf.</p><p>Rai is an ophthalmologist from Madhya Pradesh and one of the whistleblowers in the VYAPAM examination scam. He had also reportedly joined the Congress party.</p>. <p>Rai 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.</p><p>"We have discussed the scope of the SC/ST Act and the action is not in accordance with law. Appeal allowed," the bench said.</p><p>The case stemmed from an incident 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.</p><p>Rai allegedly with others stopped the vehicles of the lawmakers, the collector and other officials. </p><p>The FIR was lodged by Vikas Pargi. It was alleged that a group blocked the road for nearly one hour, abused the lawmakers and engaged in a scuffle with police personnel who attempted to clear the way.</p><p>Rai was one among approximately 40-45 persons identified in the FIR and charges were framed against him on March 18, 2025.</p>
<p>New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed charges of caste-based violence against a Congress leader and a whistleblower in the Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM examination scam.</p><p>A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh provided the relief to Anand Rai after hearing senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Sumeer Sodhi on his behalf.</p><p>Rai is an ophthalmologist from Madhya Pradesh and one of the whistleblowers in the VYAPAM examination scam. He had also reportedly joined the Congress party.</p>. <p>Rai 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.</p><p>"We have discussed the scope of the SC/ST Act and the action is not in accordance with law. Appeal allowed," the bench said.</p><p>The case stemmed from an incident 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.</p><p>Rai allegedly with others stopped the vehicles of the lawmakers, the collector and other officials. </p><p>The FIR was lodged by Vikas Pargi. It was alleged that a group blocked the road for nearly one hour, abused the lawmakers and engaged in a scuffle with police personnel who attempted to clear the way.</p><p>Rai was one among approximately 40-45 persons identified in the FIR and charges were framed against him on March 18, 2025.</p>
