Being falsely accused in any case is really traumatic. Social ostracization and relentless character assassination of a falsely accused person further exacerbate the sufferings. One false FIR can ruin the life and career of an individual. No one can understand it better than Saravjeet Singh. Three years ago, a girl named Jasleen Kaur- a former student of St Stephen’s college and an active member of AAP’s student wing, CYSS- in a Facebook post, alleged Saravjeet of verbally harassing her at Tilak Nagar traffic signal in West Delhi.
No sooner had her social media post gone viral, an endless cycle of ordeal commenced in Saravjeet’s life. People appreciated Jasleen for her bravery, including some high profile people in the country like Arvind Kejriwal. It was obvious for Kejriwal to sympathize with her as both are birds of the same feather. Everyone had virulently criticized and attacked Saravjeet, keyboard warriors demanded harshest possible punishment be awarded to Saravjeet. Bollywood celebrities, activists, feminists, liberal-leftist cabal all in unison labeled Saravjeet as ‘pervert’ without even bothering to know his side. The Delhi Police also arrested him without delay. But, before his arrest, Saravjeet too had authored his side of the incident in an FB post.
Jasleen’s version was also contended by an eyewitness, Vishwajeet Singh, who claimed that Saravjeet is innocent and it is the Jasleen who had first started an altercation and misbehaved with Saravjeet. She had also apologized to Saravjeet. Saravjeet had also said that Jasleen was an AAP activist and that is why national convener of AAP had swiftly came to her defense, maligning Saravjeet and lauding Jasleen for her ‘courage’.
Jasleen Kaur is an #AAP supporter who wants to be famous: #Delhi biker Sarvjeet Singh http://t.co/nWCNTBa80x @JasleenKaur89
— ABP News (@ABPNews) August 25, 2015
https://twitter.com/indiantweeter/status/637625525960224769
Very soon, the picture became crystal clear and it had emerged that it Jasleen who was at the fault but she played her sham feminist and victim card, and made a villain out of an innocent guy.
Nothing happened to Jasleen but the entire incident has caused a huge damage to Sarvajeet’s social life and career. As soon as the incident surfaced on national media, news channel portraying him as the villain, his employer fired him and since then he is struggling to get a stable job because of his ‘criminal background’.
“Soon after the incident, the company I was working with asked me to leave. We used to produce labels for branded clothes and had international clients. My boss told me that the company’s name was being tainted as the news had spread to our international clients as well,” the Print quoted him saying so.
Saravjeet further added, “I then took up a job at a marriage bureau that was paying me 40 per cent less than what I was earning earlier, but I had no option.” A few months later, company asked him to leave. Later on, he joined another firm but from there also he was asked to resign because of his visits to the court with respect to fake case filed against him.
Saravjeet further speaks about his ordeal in an interview with the Print. He said, “The third company chucked me out because each time I had a hearing, I had to take leave. They never respected me and looked at me as if I was a criminal. One day, I was asked to leave and come back only after I was declared innocent.”
He further added, “What infuriates me the most is that arguments in the case have not even begun. When will I prove my innocence and when will I resume a normal life.” He added, “All this, because the woman has not got the time to attend a hearing”.
So far there have been 13 hearings in the case and Jasleen was not present in any of the hearing. According to Saravjeet, Jasleen’s father keeps reiterating to court that she is studying abroad. Saravjeet says, “Each time when the judge asks why the complainant has not appeared, her father says that she has gone to Canada to study. So that means she has the right to make a career but I do not.” he says.
The Print in its report claims that they tried to establish contact with Jasleen and her lawyer through phone and social media but they were absent there as well. He says, “Each time I go to the court for the hearing, they call out my name, ask me to put my hand up and write down my name.” He further adds, “They ask if the complainant has come. Because she is absent, another date is given and the matter is dismissed. This has been happening for the past three years.”
Due to Jasleen’s unending absence, the Delhi court has issued a bailable warrant against her on 28 August.
When Saravjeet somehow managed to directly speak to the Judge, he reportedly told Saravjeet that if Jasleen fails to appear in the next hearing which is going to be held in December then a non-bailable warrant will be issued against her. On this Saravjeet says, “Hopefully my case will be decided if she fails to appear in the next hearing.”
Whatever has happened is not right and there are many such unjust cases going against honest and innocent men. Some women have grossly misused the laws which were meant for their protection. The government must take the necessary steps to put an end to this practice. The need of the hour is fast-track courts for the faster judicial process of molestation and rape cases and the laws should be made more gender neutral and there should be a provision of criminal proceedings against those who file fake cases.
