Prayagraj: Observing that misuse of SC/ST Act is fraud on state, Allahabad high court on Thursday imposed Rs 5 lakh fine on the accused for manipulating victim and ordered for refund of compensation received by them. The court described it as ‘serious abuse’ of process of law and ‘gross misuse’ of benevolent provisions of SC/ST Act.Dismissing criminal appeal filed by Rameshar Singh and 18 other accused under section 14-A (1) of 1989 Act SC/ST Act, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav directed the victims, a Dalit woman and her two daughters-in-law, to refund the entire compensation amount of Rs 4.5 lakh received by them from state govt. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on the 19 accused-appellants for their role in manipulating the victim and attempting to subvert the course of justice.The present criminal appeal was filed by 19 accused seeking to quash cognizance and summoning order passed by the Special Judge (SC/ST Act), Prayagraj in connection with a criminal case involving serious charges under various sections of IPC and section 3(2)(va) SC/ST Act. It was alleged in the FIR lodged by a Dalit woman and her daughters-in-law that the accused assaulted them and used criminal force with the intent to outrage modesty, an offence under section 354Kha of the IPC.During hearing on Nov 4, counsel for appellants argued that FIR was lodged on thumb impression of the complainant. However, this assertion was denied categorically by the counsel for the complainant, who contended that no such FIR was lodged by the victim. Noting that the complainant was a woman belonging to SC community, the court, apprehended that the applicants might have approached her and exerted undue pressure upon her.On Thursday, all three police officers concerned appeared before the court and on a pointed query by the court the complainant stated that her thumb impression had been taken on a blank paper. On the other hand, govt advocate produced the case records to show that FIR had actually been lodged on the basis of a written complaint submitted by the complainant herself.Govt advocate also informed the court that the statements of the complainant and her two daughters-in-law were recorded under Section 161 CrPC as well as under Section 164 CrPC, wherein all three had unequivocally supported the prosecution version. The GA further apprised the bench that all three women had been medically examined and had received Rs 1.5 lakh each [totaling Rs 4.5 lakh] as compensation under the statutory scheme of the SC/ST Act.Taking note of these submissions, the court recorded its dismay over the turn of events as it observed thus: “The court finds it deeply disturbing that the complainant now denies having filed the FIR, despite having made statements under section 164 Cr.P.C. affirming the allegations and having availed of substantial monetary compensation under the statutory scheme meant for genuine victims of atrocities”. “Such conduct prima facie reflects a serious abuse of the process of law and a gross misuse of the benevolent provisions of the SC/ST Act. The sequence of events suggests a deliberate attempt to manipulate the criminal justice process after wrongfully obtaining public funds, thereby committing a fraud upon the State”, the court further observed.