Patna Consumer Forum Row: SC Litigant Accuses Officials of Casteist Slurs, Threats, and Misuse of Power

Patna- In a shocking development in Bihar's capital, a young man from the Scheduled Caste community has lodged a formal complaint with the police against the President and a Member of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC), Patna. Shubham Kumar has accused Prem Ranjan Mishra, President, and Rajnish Kumar, Member, of subjecting him to caste-based humiliation, public abuse, criminal intimidation including death threats, and deliberately obstructing justice in his pending consumer case.

The complaint, sent to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna, seeks immediate registration of an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

According to the complaint, the dispute stems from Shubham Kumar's ongoing consumer complaint case (Case No. DC/212/CC/539/2024) before the DCDRC Patna. Sharing details with The Mooknayak, Shubham alleges that both officials repeatedly discriminated against him on caste grounds, intimidated him, and misused their positions whenever he approached the commission for hearings, RTI-related matters, or grievance redressal. While tensions had been building since last year, the situation escalated dramatically on February 18.

On the morning of February 18, around 10:45 AM, Shubham arrived at the DCDRC premises to submit representations and meet the NCDRC Inspection Team regarding alleged misconduct by the officials. Member Rajnish Kumar allegedly confronted him outside the courtroom, behaved aggressively, threatened physical assault, and warned him to leave the premises. He reportedly said, “You don’t know who I am. I have political support. You will be killed and no one will be there to save you.” He further threatened false arrest through the Sachivalaya Police Station. Commission guards and staff prevented Shubham from entering or meeting the inspecting authorities, and police from Sachivalaya Thana were summoned on the false claim that he was causing disturbance, even though he was peacefully pursuing his legal remedies.

Later that afternoon, another incident occurred within the DCDRC premises. An advocate requested Shubham to take a photograph of him with President Prem Ranjan Mishra and Rajnish Kumar using the advocate's mobile phone. While complying, Mishra allegedly turned furious and publicly hurled filthy abuses at Shubham in a loud voice, calling him “lucha, lafanga, fraud” and questioning his “aukat” (status) for taking the photo. The insults were delivered in the presence of several advocates and other people present there.

Shubham further alleged that on earlier occasions, both officials made direct caste-based derogatory remarks, such as: “This SC boy thinks he can climb over my head. We will make him rub his nose in our shoes, even then we won’t pass his order Let him go wherever he wants, he keeps filing RTIs.” These statements were allegedly intended to humiliate him because of his Scheduled Caste identity and to threaten denial of justice in his case.

Additionally, on October 24, 2025, and November 7, 2025, Prem Ranjan Mishra allegedly directed the issuance of notices for personal hearings in RTI Appeal No. 04/2025 despite submitted documents, which Shubham viewed as deliberate harassment. Despite his emailed opposition to personal appearance due to fear, confrontations and intimidation continued during his visits.

The complaint cites these acts as offences under Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Sections 351 (criminal intimidation), 352 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 296 (obscene abusive words) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Shubham claims the repeated threats and humiliation have caused him severe mental agony and fear for his life and safety.

In his prayer, Shubham has urged immediate FIR registration, a proper investigation by a competent officer as per SC/ST Act rules, personal protection, and prevention of any misuse of the Sachivalaya Police Station against him. Copies of the complaint were sent to the Director General of Police, Bihar; National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC); National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC); and others. He also noted that the Central Vigilance Commission has recognized him as a whistleblower and directed security measures.