Family fights ₹75 wire theft charge for two generations:Rail employee and wife die during trial; disabled son secures acquittal

42 years ago, railway employee Rammani Vishwakarma was accused of stealing a cable worth ₹75. He was first suspended and later dismissed from service. Rammani challenged the railway department’s order in court, but he died while the legal battle was still ongoing. After Rammani’s death, his wife Urmila took up the fight. She too passed away a few years later. Their son Basanta Vishwakarma then stepped forward to continue the battle for his father’s dignity and rights. The verdict in this ₹75 dispute came after 42 years, but neither Rammani nor his wife Urmila were alive to hear it. The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted relief to the petitioner in the theft case that had been pending since 1984. The court directed the railway authorities to resolve the matter and submit a report within 60 days. Fitter was accused of stealing wire worth Rs 75 Rammani, a resident of Rewa, worked as a fitter in the Railways at Katni. In 1984, his monthly salary was about ₹4,500. Departmental officials accused him of stealing around five metres of wire kept in the office, valued at ₹75. A departmental inquiry found Rammani guilty and he was dismissed from service. He pleaded before officials with folded hands, claiming he was innocent, but no one listened. Suspended from service, not even given subsistence allowance Rammani challenged the railway action before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Advocate Pragalbha Lata Shrivastava, arguing on his behalf, told the court that the theft allegation was based only on suspicion and the Railways had no solid evidence. It was also argued that a person earning ₹4,500 a month would not risk his job to steal a wire worth ₹75. After nearly a year of proceedings, the CAT converted the dismissal order into a suspension and directed that Rammani’s family be given subsistence allowance. However, the Railways did not pay the allowance. In March 1986, Rammani filed another application stating that he had still not received the allowance despite the CAT order. In May 1996, following CAT’s directions, he began receiving 50% of his salary every month. After the Fifth Pay Commission was implemented, he again applied for an increase in the allowance. Acquitted in 2001 but did not receive full salary After a long legal battle, on 22 August 2001, a Special Railway Magistrate acquitted Rammani Vishwakarma due to lack of evidence. He was reinstated in service and given a posting again, but he did not receive full salary, increments, allowances or pension benefits. The Railways said he had been acquitted on the benefit of doubt, so service benefits could not be granted. On that basis, the suspension period was treated as “non-duty” and his salary and allowances were withheld. Rammani then approached CAT again, saying that despite being innocent he had not received the remaining 50% salary withheld between 1994 and 2001. He retired on 31 August. When the Railways still did not grant pension benefits, he filed another application before CAT. However, he died on 9 November 2004 while the case was still pending. Argued that he was acquitted giving benefit of doubt Despite being innocent, Rammani Vishwakarma fought the Railways until the end of his life to defend his dignity. After his death in 2004, his wife Urmila Vishwakarma continued the battle. In December 2004, Urmila sent a legal notice to the Railways demanding the remaining 50% salary from 1994 to 2001 and pension benefits. In February 2005, the Railways rejected the claim, stating that Rammani had been acquitted only on the benefit of doubt. Urmila then filed an original application before CAT in December 2006, but it was rejected. She too passed away in 2007. No relief from tribunal, appeal filed in High Court Following the deaths of Rammani in 2004 and Urmila in 2007, their son Basanta Vishwakarma continued the fight for his father’s honour. After failing to get relief from CAT, he approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The case was heard multiple times and hearings were scheduled on different dates. The final hearing took place on February 19, 2026. High Court directed reconsideration of service benefits During the hearing, the High Court observed that the magistrate’s order clearly stated that the prosecution had insufficient evidence. It was not merely a benefit of doubt but an acquittal due to lack of evidence. A division bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal said that without a departmental inquiry and without punishment, the suspension period cannot automatically be treated as “non-duty”. Citing the principles laid down in Union of India vs KV Jankiraman, the court directed reconsideration of service benefits. From 1984 to 2005, Senior Advocate Shobha Menon represented Rammani Vishwakarma and Urmila Vishwakarma in the case. From 2005 to 2026, Advocate Pragalbha Lata Shrivastava continued the legal fight. Finally, after 42 years, justice was delivered. Son met with an accident during the case, became disabled Advocate Pragalbha Lata Shrivastava said that despite false allegations, Rammani and his family had to endure a long legal struggle. They maintained faith in the judiciary and ultimately achieved victory. She said the allegation involved only a ₹75 wire, but the entire family stood firm against the Railways to protect their self-respect. During the course of the case, Basanta Vishwakarma met with an accident and became disabled, yet he continued the fight. Another notable aspect of the case was that while Advocate Pragalbha Lata Shrivastava was arguing in court, her husband was undergoing surgery in Delhi, yet she prioritised the case.