Fresh case against Ashis Nandy in Jodhpur

Renowned sociologist Ashis Nandy found himself in fresh trouble Wednesday as another police case was registered against him in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city under the SC/ST Act.

This case too relates to comments Nandy made at the recently concluded Jaipur Literature Festival.

Speaking of how people long denied power were wresting it from the established elite, Nandy had said that Dalits, tribals and other backward classes (OBCs) were engaged in “corruption”, by which he meant that these groups functioned without being constrained by law or propriety in their bid to better their plight.

A case was booked Saturday by Jaipur police against the maverick sociologist for these comments under the same sections of law.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Nandy with Mahamandir police station in Jodhpur, some 330 km from Jaipur.

“One Naresh Kandara has registered the case under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) and one section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Tuesday,” said the officer.

The Jaipur police have already sent Nandy a notice at his New Delhi residence, requiring him to appear before the investigation officer for questioning.