Uttar Pradesh Police Come To Rescue Of Dalit Man Denied Service By Banquet Hall Owner From Abbasi Caste

A family from Valmiki jaati, which comes under scheduled castes, booked a banquet hall for wedding of their daughter.

The family paid an advance of Rs 10,000 to the banquet owner more than two weeks ago. The wedding function is scheduled for Sunday (9 April).

To their shock, the banquet hall owner, Raees Abbasi, told the brother of the bride two days ago that he was cancelling the booking. Abbasi told Jaideep Valmiki that he does not give services to Valmikis.

The audio conversation between Jaideep and Abbasi, which took place on 5 April, was recorded.

On 7 April, Jaideep submitted the recording to the police along with a complaint saying that he was denied the service owing to his scheduled caste status.

In prompt action, the police booked Abbasi under Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and assured Jaideep that the wedding of his sister would be held in that same banquet hall on Sunday.

The police have promised him protection through a team.

The incident has been reported from Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.

Swarajya could not speak to Jaideep as his phone number remained switched off on 7 April.

However, we have accessed the first information report (FIR) filed in the case as well as documents such as the receipt of the booking and wedding invitation.

The FIR was filed at Kharkhauda police station of Meerut on 7 April (number 146). The statement of Jaideep recorded in the FIR says that his is the only Hindu family in the all-Muslim village of Alipur. The said banquet hall is named Golden Farm House. 

Abbasi has been booked under IPC sections 504 (insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) besides the SC atrocity act.

Meerut police, through their official Twitter account, posted that the accused (Abbasi) has told the police that he would allow the function in his property on the due date.