Police register FIR against Vadodara lawyer; allegations span February and May
The Chhota Udepur police have registered a first information report (FIR) against a Vadodara-based criminal advocate after a woman in her mid-30s accused him, his wife and an unnamed junior of sexual assault on two occasions, according to reporting by the Indian Express. The FIR, lodged on August 7, invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to the complaint reported, the alleged incidents occurred first in February at the advocate’s office in Vadodara and again on May 22 at another location. The woman said she initially approached the couple regarding a rent agreement; she alleged they later offered her domestic work at their residence and office for a monthly wage of ₹15,000. After working for nearly a month she returned to her village following her father’s death. The complaint states an unnamed junior later contacted her and brought her back to Vadodara.
| Date | Allegation / Event |
|---|---|
| February (reported) | Woman alleges she was sexually assaulted at the lawyer’s office despite resistance |
| 22 May (reported) | Woman alleges she was taken to a location and sexually assaulted by the lawyer and his junior |
| 7 August | FIR registered in Chhota Udepur police station invoking BJNyS and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act |
Charges include alleged caste-based abuse and threats
The complaint additionally alleges that the woman was subjected to "caste-based abuse and threats" and was coerced by threats of circulating purported private videos if she approached the police, the report states. The accused named in the FIR include the advocate, identified in the report as Hitesh Gupta, his wife and an unnamed junior. Gupta has denied the allegations, according to the report.
Legal and local reaction
The case has prompted a response within the local legal community. A group of lawyers marched to the office of the Range Inspector General of Police on Monday, demanding the complaint be investigated "without bias", the Indian Express reported. The demand for an impartial probe reflects concern among practitioners about both the seriousness of the charges and the need for due process.
- Alleged offences: Sexual assault on two occasions, threat to circulate private material, caste-based abuse; FIR under BJNyS and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
- Accused: Advocate Hitesh Gupta, his wife and an unidentified junior; Gupta denies the allegations.
- Action so far: FIR registered at a police station in Chhota Udepur on August 7; investigation under way.
The invocation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act adds an additional legal dimension: offences under that statute attract stringent penalties and mandate special procedures, which can affect investigation and trial timelines. The FIR’s reliance on provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita likewise signals criminal charges framed under the current national penal framework.
"The complaint must be investigated without bias," the group of lawyers told officials, according to the report.
At the time of reporting, police had not released a detailed statement on evidence gathered or subsequent investigative steps beyond registration of the FIR. The Indian Express report names the complainant as a woman in her mid-30s but does not publish identifying details.
For Vadodara residents, the case raises scrutiny of professional conduct among local legal practitioners and the safeguards available to complainants alleging sexual and caste-based offences. It also underlines the interaction between district police jurisdictions—here, Chhota Udepur—and city-based legal offices when alleged offences cross municipal boundaries.
Authorities are expected to proceed with standard investigative procedures under the relevant statutes. Further developments, such as charge sheets or arrests, will determine the next legal steps and any possible trial in an appropriate court.
