Damoh Caste Horror: Madhya Pradesh HC Orders Strict NSA Action Against Accused in Viral Feet-Washing Video Scandal

Jabalpur- In a landmark intervention, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the horrific caste-based humiliation in Damoh district's Satariya village, directing police to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against the main accused, Anuj Pandey, and others visible in viral videos.

The Division Bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Pradeep Mittal, in its order dated October 14 expressed profound shock over the "obnoxious and unbelievable" act where an OBC youth, Purushottam Kushwaha, was coerced into washing Anuj's feet and drinking the water ("Charanamrit") at a village temple. The case, titled Court on Its Own Motion vs. Director General of Police (MP), Home Secretary (MP), Collector Damoh, Superintendent of Police Damoh (W.P. No. /2025), was listed for hearing at the top of the board on October 15.

The shocking event unfolded on October 10, in Satariya village (Parsia area) under Patera police station in Damoh district. The village panchayat had imposed a self-prohibition on alcohol, but Brahmin community member Anuj Pandey was allegedly caught selling liquor and found drunk, leading to a ₹2,100 fine by the panchayat. In retaliation, OBC community member Purushottam Kushwaha used artificial intelligence (AI) to create a meme depicting Anuj with a garland of shoes around his neck. Upon objections from the upper-caste (Brahmin) villagers, Purushottam deleted the meme within 15 minutes, but intimidation and threats followed.

Village-level tensions escalated, culminating in an unauthorized panchayat that decided Purushottam must "atone" for his "indiscretion." He was summoned to the village temple, surrounded by a large mob, and forced to perform the humiliating act. Viral videos show individuals with casteist mindsets compelling him to bow before the Shivling, wash Anuj's feet in a plate, and drink the water. Purushottam was scripted to say: "For the mistake of posting on social media, I apologize by washing Anuj Pandey's feet and drinking the Charanamrit, and I will continue to worship Brahmins in this manner in the future." Eye movements in the video indicate he was reading from a prepared text under duress. In a later video, Purushottam claimed some were exaggerating the issue and that Anuj was his long-time guru, but the court deemed this coerced.

Court's Observations and Directives:

Describing the incident as a violation of human dignity and constitutional equality, the court referenced newspaper reports and the aforementioned YouTube channels for verification. Damoh SP joined via video conferencing and assured the addition of Section 196(2) to the FIR, given the temple premises. The bench questioned the applicability of Section 296 in the existing FIR (under Sections 196(1)(b), with a maximum three-year punishment) and ordered inclusion of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 351 (criminal force) and 133 (insult), along with 196(2), citing the mob's surrounding environment as implicit coercion despite no overt verbal threats.

The court lambasted the rising caste-related violence in Madhya Pradesh, citing a case where a general category person urinated on a tribal's head, prompting the then Chief Minister to wash the victim's feet in appeasement. It noted how caste identities are surging, with communities shamelessly flaunting affiliations- Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, eroding Hindu society's unity. Social media and newspapers amplify this, with incidents like a shoe thrown at the Chief Justice of India and a Haryana SP's caste-linked suicide underscoring the national crisis. Victims are often the least educated and poorest. The bench warned that unchecked, Hindus could self-destruct through infighting within a century and a half.

Special Directive for NSA Invocation

While typically deferring NSA to executive discretion, the court deemed it essential here due to delayed action and brewing resentment in the victim's OBC community, which could spark violence and disrupt public order. It ordered immediate NSA proceedings (in addition to the FIR) against all identifiable accused in the videos who surrounded Purushottam at the temple, to prevent the "evil symphony of caste acrimony and discrimination" from reaching a crescendo.

The court directed Damoh police and administration to maintain peace. The OBC Mahasabha's announced "Social Justice Mahaaandolan" on October 16 could gain momentum from this directive. Purushottam, supported by his community, had filed a police report seeking legal justice. Police had already registered an FIR and imposed restrictions on both sides, but NSA will tighten the noose on absconding accused.

This ruling signals a crackdown on social media-fueled caste disputes in Madhya Pradesh. Experts hail swift judicial intervention as key to curbing such atrocities and promoting harmony.