To,


Shri. Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi

Special Judge (SC/ST, Prevention of Atrocities Act)

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Subject: Appreciation for Landmark Judgment in State v. Rekha Devi and Sentencing the Woman to 7.5 Years’ Imprisonment and Imposing a Fine of ₹2.1 Lakhs for Implicating 2 Men in False Gang Rape and SC/ST Case

Respected Sir,

I, Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, documentary filmmaker, equal rights activist, and founder of Ekam Nyaay Foundation, write to express my heartfelt gratitude and deep appreciation for your recent landmark judgment in State v. Rekha Devi, wherein Your Lordship sentenced a woman to 7.5 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹2.1 lakh for filing a false gang rape case and misusing the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Your Lordship’s judgment is not only a rare and courageous reaffirmation of the principle that justice must be blind to gender, but also a much-needed beacon of hope for countless innocent men and families across this nation whose lives are shattered by false accusations.

After the Nirbhaya tragedy, Government introduced measures to safeguard women such as mandatory FIR registration without preliminary inquiry and immediate financial assistance to complainants in cases of sexual violence. While the intent of these reforms was noble, Your Lordship has astutely observed that these protections are increasingly being weaponised by individuals to settle personal scores or seek unjust personal gains, and that men are now frequently falling victim to the very system meant to deliver justice.

Through Ekam Nyaay Foundation, we provide pro-bono counselling to men who have been falsely implicated in rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, or dowry-related offences. They often mention that they live as “socially dead persons,” constantly battling humiliation, isolation, and legal trauma, much like what Your Lordship so powerfully highlighted in your observations. Many lose their jobs, families, mental peace and tragically, some even their lives. It was heart-breaking to read that during the course of this trial, one of the accused in the case, a young man of just 29 years, lost his life. Such irreversible consequences are a painful reminder of the devastating impact of false cases.

Your Lordship’s strong, clear stance not only delivers justice in this particular case but also sends a strong message across the country that the judiciary will not turn a blind eye to the abuse of 

law, irrespective of gender. Your decision to convict the complainant reflects your unwavering commitment to justice, fairness, and constitutional morality.

I also sincerely commend Your Lordship’s interpretation of legislative safeguards, particularly the powerful recommendations made in your verdict:

1. That police must mention in any fresh FIR the details of previous FIRs filed by the complainant or their family members, including the nature of those complaints and the accused involved.
   
2. That no cash compensation should be disbursed solely upon FIR registration, and the entire monetary relief should be disbursed only after submission of the chargesheet.

These recommendations, if widely implemented, can drastically curb misuse of protective laws while preserving their purpose for genuine victims.

Recently, our Foundation also assisted Retired Army Captain Rakesh Walia in securing the quashing of a false rape FIR in the Hon’ble Supreme Court, where the complainant had filed 9 similar FIRs in Delhi over a span of just 8 years. Cases like these are not isolated anomalies anymore, they are fast becoming patterns. Your Lordship’s ruling stands as a much-needed judicial precedent for such times.

Your decision gives renewed strength to victims of false accusations - not just men, but also their parents, wives, and children — whose voices often go unheard. It also reinforces our belief that the Indian judiciary still stands tall as the ultimate guardian of truth and justice.

Through my two documentary films — India’s Sons, which captures real-life accounts of men falsely accused of rape, and Martyrs of Marriage, which exposes the misuse of dowry laws — I have extensively documented how innocent men and their families suffer due to legal misuse.

Martyrs of Marriage received a global release on Netflix, and was also screened in Maharashtra Judicial Academy, Tamil Nadu Judicial Academy and the Pune Sessions Court . India’s Sons was previously streaming on JioCinema and has been screened for the entire Commissionerate of Ghaziabad Police.

Both these documentaries have been screened at various forums where Members of Parliament, retired High Court and Supreme Court judges, and other eminent jurists have attended and appreciated the balanced, evidence-backed presentation of legal misuse in these films.

We will be highly grateful if given an opportunity to screen the documentary in your jurisdiction as well. It would be an honor if we can present our films under your guidance. The trailers of both films are available on YouTube.

Once again, on behalf of Ekam Nyaay Foundation, and countless families across India, I thank Your Lordship for your courage, compassion, and commitment to balanced justice. May your ruling serve as a cornerstone for judicial deterrence against false cases and usher in a much-needed era of legal accountability and gender neutrality.