A case has been registered against Infosys co-founder Senapathy Kris Gopalakrishnan, former Indian Institute of Science (IISc) director Balaram P, and 16 others under the Prevention ofSC/ST Atrocities Act. Professor D. Sanna Durgappa, a former faculty member at the IISc’s Centre for Sustainable Technologies, filed the complaint.

The case was lodged following directions from the 71st City Civil and Session Court in Bengaluru, which instructed the jurisdictional police to investigate the matter. The complaint, registered on January 27, alleges false implication, caste-based abuse, and threats.

Professor Durgappa, a member of the Bovi community (a Scheduled Caste), claimed he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, which ultimately led to his dismissal from IISc. He also alleged that during his tenure, he faced caste-based discrimination and threats from colleagues and members of the administration.

The accused list includes prominent names such as Govindan Rangarajan, Sridhar Warrier, Sandya Vishwswaraih, Hari KVS, Dasappa, Hemalata Mhishi, Chattopadyaya K, Pradeep D Sawkar, and Manoharan, among others.

As of now, neither Gopalakrishnan, who also serves on the IISc board of trustees, nor the IISc administration has issued an official statement regarding the allegations.

This development has sparked widespread interest, given the involvement of high-profile individuals and the serious nature of the accusations under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

The Act aims to address historic injustices and ensure the dignity and rights of these communities. The Act provides for Special Courts and the Exclusive Special Courts for the trial of such offences and for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of such offences.