Madhya Pradesh High Court Invokes NSA in Severe Caste Discrimination Case: OBC Man Forced to Drink Foot Water

A video showing Parshottam Kushwaha washing Annu Pandey's feet has gone viral across social media platforms.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur has initiated suo motu proceedings regarding the disturbing caste humiliation incident in Sataria village, Damoh district, where an OBC man was compelled to wash and drink water from the feet of an upper-caste individual.

The court described this act as representing "deep caste discrimination and a serious assault on human dignity."

A division bench led by Chief Justice Atul Shridharan and Justice Pradeep Mittal instructed Damoh police authorities to incorporate more severe charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 351 and 133, along with Section 196(2) for offenses committed within temple premises.

Furthermore, the court mandated the implementation of the National Security Act (NSA) against all individuals visible in the viral video footage.

"The victim was surrounded by a mob and compelled to obey. This constitutes a punishable act of coercion and intimidation," observed the bench.

The bench issued notices to several officials including the Director General of Police, Home Secretary, Collector, and Superintendent of Police of Damoh, directing strict compliance with their orders. The Superintendent of Police from Damoh participated in the proceedings via video conferencing and assured the court that additional charges would be incorporated.

Earlier this week in Sataria village, an OBC man allegedly created an AI-generated meme mocking a villager named Anu Pandey, who was accused of selling liquor despite a local prohibition. The meme depicted Pandey adorned with a garland of slippers, which provoked outrage among upper-caste residents.

Subsequently, a village panchayat determined to "teach him a lesson." The young man was summoned to a local temple where he was forced to wash Anu Pandey's feet, drink the same water, and beg for forgiveness before a mocking crowd.

The disturbing footage was widely distributed on social media and YouTube channels, sparking widespread public condemnation.

The victim later appeared in another video claiming the incident was merely a "misunderstanding" and stating that "Anu Pandey is my guru," though the court noted he appeared to be speaking under duress.

The bench observed that the initial FIR filed by Damoh police under Sections 296 and 196(1)(b) was "inadequate." It directed immediate addition of Sections 351 (use of force) and 133 (public insult and humiliation).

Expressing serious concern, the court remarked: "Incidents of caste violence are recurring in Madhya Pradesh. Previously, a man from the general category urinated on a tribal, and the Chief Minister washed the victim's feet. Now every caste is parading its identity, threatening the very unity of Hindu society. If this continues, there will be no Hindu identity remaining in the next 150 years."

The court has requested a status report by October 15, which is the scheduled date for the next hearing.