The Supreme Court has canceled a First Information Report (FIR) filed under the stringent Uttar Pradesh Gangster Act against an individual known as Gabbar Singh, whose real name is Devendra Pratap Singh. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K. Vinod Chandran found significant flaws in the process of preparing and forwarding the gang chart. These procedural errors, the court stated, rendered the entire FIR invalid, emphasizing the absolute necessity of adhering to legal procedures.

The court stressed that when the law prescribes a specific method for carrying out an action, it must be followed precisely, or it will not be considered acceptable. This strong stance came after reviewing the case where Gabbar Singh faced allegations of land grabbing, fraud, intimidation, and other criminal activities. The bench highlighted that the preparation and forwarding of the gang chart in this particular case were deeply flawed, undermining the basis of the FIR.

Elaborating on the required process, the Supreme Court outlined that a gang chart needs verification through a defined procedure. This typically involves recommendations from the Station House Officer (SHO) and the Additional Superintendent of Police. Following this, the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate review the chart, and it is then approved in a joint meeting, requiring signatures from all relevant officials.

In Gabbar Singh’s case, the necessary recommendations and signatures from the required officials were absent from the gang chart. The original FIR was registered on May 28, 2022, in Bahraich. Gabbar Singh had initially approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR but was unsuccessful, prompting him to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court concluded by noting that declaring someone a gangster carries severe implications, necessitating extreme caution and strict adherence to established procedures. This is especially crucial when an individual’s liberty is at stake, as personal freedom is highly valued and should only be infringed upon in strict accordance with the law.