Sri Vijaya Puram, July 9: The legal battle arising from the July 1 assault outside Food Fantasy at Junglighat is set to come up before the Sessions Court today, with proceedings now centred on allegations that Ward No. 6 councillor Aziz-ur-Rehman alias Niyamat made caste-based remarks following the incident. The case, which initially stemmed from an assault involving a group of youths, has since expanded into proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The complaint alleges that caste-related remarks made by Aziz-ur-Rehman during the aftermath of the assault amounted to an insult directed at a Scheduled Caste community, prompting legal action under the provisions of the SC/ST Act. The matter is now before the judiciary, with Sher Singh stating that he has received a Sessions Court notice directing him to appear today, when Aziz-ur-Rehman can also appear before the court.
The incident occurred outside Food Fantasy near the Junglighat Petrol Pump, where what was initially described as a dispute among youths escalated into a violent assault. As the matter unfolded, allegations of caste-based abuse surfaced, transforming the case from an assault investigation into one involving offences under the SC/ST Act.
Sher Singh has maintained that the issue is not a personal dispute but concerns the alleged insult of an entire community. He said legal proceedings were initiated to ensure that alleged caste-based abuse is addressed through the judicial process and expressed confidence that the police investigation and the court would act in accordance with the law.
The case has also drawn attention beyond the islands, with members of the community from West Bengal, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh reportedly contacting Sher Singh and urging that legal action be pursued.
Sher Singh has denied allegations that members of his community trespassed into any premises during the incident and has sought an impartial investigation. He has urged investigators to examine CCTV footage, including traffic surveillance cameras, to determine whether any such incident took place and place the findings before the court.
During the interaction, it was stated that six persons were arrested in connection with the assault case, of whom five have been released while one remains in judicial custody. Sher Singh declined to comment on the backgrounds of those arrested, saying the matter should be decided through the investigation and judicial process.
Sher Singh also said he has submitted his Scheduled Caste certificate and electronic evidence to the investigating agency and expressed hope that all relevant material would be presented before the court. He further indicated that he would approach the IT Cell against individuals allegedly posting derogatory comments about his community on social media, asserting that no one has the right to insult any caste either offline or online.
With the Sessions Court scheduled to hear the matter today, the Food Fantasy assault case has moved beyond the initial allegations of violence and now stands at the centre of judicial proceedings involving alleged caste-based abuse, criminal investigation and the application of the SC/ST Act.
