Hisar – Rajat Kalsan, a prominent Dalit rights activist and lawyer known for his relentless pursuit of justice in cases of caste-based atrocities, was arrested twice on the same day in connection with two separate cases in Hansi and Hisar, Haryana. The incidents have ignited widespread criticism, with allegations of police bias and political pressure surfacing from legal and activist communities.

The sequence of events began when Hansi police arrested Kalsan following a complaint lodged by an individual named Sushil. The complainant alleged that Kalsan had circulated a video accusing Sushil’s family and the police of corruption and misconduct related to the Budana case, a matter that has drawn significant attention due to its sensitive nature. Acting on the complaint, Narnaund police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Kalsan under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Kalsan was presented before a local court, which granted him bail in the matter. However, his release was short-lived as he was immediately rearrested by Hisar police in connection with a separate incident.

The second arrest stemmed from an altercation that reportedly occurred on July 30, at Hisar’s Auto Market. According to police reports, officers visited Kalsan to serve a notice related to the Budana case. During this interaction, a scuffle allegedly broke out, resulting in injuries to Sub-Inspector Ravikant. The Hisar police subsequently registered a case against Kalsan for manhandling and obstructing police officials in the line of duty.

“Following the incident, a case was registered, and Rajat Kalsan was taken into custody,” stated a Hisar police spokesperson. Station House Officer (SHO) Balwan Singh of Narnaund police station confirmed the sequence of events, stating, “Kalsan was granted bail in the Budana case but was then immediately detained by Hisar police in the case of assaulting a police officer.”

The arrests have sparked significant outrage, particularly among the legal fraternity and Dalit rights activists, who view the actions as an attempt to suppress Kalsan’s advocacy for marginalized communities. Advocate Lal Bahadur Khowal, State Chairman of the Haryana Congress Legal Department, condemned the police’s actions as “clearly biased and reflective of political pressure.”

In a statement to Pathakpaksh News, Khowal emphasized that the issue transcends the targeting of an individual lawyer and strikes at the core of the legal community’s independence and dignity. “We have seen on social media how the police made him sit on the ground, attempting to humiliate him,” Khowal said. He urged advocates to rise above caste divisions and unite in protest against such actions, warning that unchecked police overreach could set a dangerous precedent. “If today a lawyer is targeted like this, tomorrow it could be any advocate framed in false cases,” he added.

Khowal called for a unified, constitutional, and democratic response from the legal community to send a clear message to the police, administration, and political authorities that arbitrary actions, political interference, or oppressive measures against lawyers will not be tolerated.

About Rajat Kalsan

Rajat Kalsan is an advocate who has frequently represented Dalits in Haryana who have faced caste discrimination and violence by members of oppressor castes, including in cases of gang rapes, killings, and house burnings.

He has fought the Mirchpur case, one of the most horrific cases of caste atrocities in Haryana against the Valmiki community by Jats of the village. He has also fought the Bhatala case, where around 500 Dalit families were socially boycotted by caste Hindus. Additionally, he has fought against casteist remarks by celebrities and political leaders like Yuvraj Singh, Mun Mun Dutta, and Bal Thackeray.