Transgender Board Member in UP Accused of Abusing Trans Persons

Transgender Welfare Board in UP Faces Backlash Over Allegations

The ongoing battle for horizontal reservations for the transgender community recently escalated into a heated confrontation, bringing to light deeper caste-based tensions within the trans community. The incident involves Devika Devendra Mangalmukhi, State Executive Member Advisor to Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board. According to multiple sources, a verbal altercation erupted between Mangalmukhi and trans rights activists, with allegations of serious misconduct against Mangalmukhi.

National Commission for Scheduled Caste Asks UP Government to Probe the Matter

The verbal altercation between Mangalmukhi and the trans rights activists reportedly escalated when the board member allegedly resorted to verbal abuse, using casteist slurs and misogynistic remarks. These accusations have ignited a wave of anger within the trans community and among activists advocating for their rights.

In the wake of this incident, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has stepped in. On January 3, 2025, the Commission formally took cognisance of the matter and wrote to the District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The NCSC's letter directed the authorities to launch an investigation into the allegations, with both officials instructed to submit an action taken report within 15 days. The commission also issued a stern warning, emphasising that failure to respond within the designated time could lead to the exercise of civil court powers under Article 338 of the Constitution of India, including the issuance of summons for the appearance of the concerned officials before the Commission.

Yashika, a Dalit trans rights activist, who wrote to the NCSC about the incident, spoke to The Probe about the alleged harassment faced by Dalit members of the transgender community. “This is not an isolated case,” she said, “Since last year, Mangalmukhi has been harassing Dalit trans individuals. She mocks us and pressures us to withdraw our fight for horizontal reservations. Despite being a trans woman herself, she has been oppressing us. She belongs to the upper caste and holds power, while we belong to the Dalit community. The truth is that there is immense caste-based oppression within the trans community itself. This incident has exposed the deep-roo

Transgender Welfare Board in UP Faces Backlash Over Allegations

The ongoing battle for horizontal reservations for the transgender community recently escalated into a heated confrontation, bringing to light deeper caste-based tensions within the trans community. The incident involves Devika Devendra Mangalmukhi, State Executive Member Advisor to Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board. According to multiple sources, a verbal altercation erupted between Mangalmukhi and trans rights activists, with allegations of serious misconduct against Mangalmukhi.

National Commission for Scheduled Caste Asks UP Government to Probe the Matter

The verbal altercation between Mangalmukhi and the trans rights activists reportedly escalated when the board member allegedly resorted to verbal abuse, using casteist slurs and misogynistic remarks. These accusations have ignited a wave of anger within the trans community and among activists advocating for their rights.

In the wake of this incident, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has stepped in. On January 3, 2025, the Commission formally took cognisance of the matter and wrote to the District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The NCSC's letter directed the authorities to launch an investigation into the allegations, with both officials instructed to submit an action taken report within 15 days. The commission also issued a stern warning, emphasising that failure to respond within the designated time could lead to the exercise of civil court powers under Article 338 of the Constitution of India, including the issuance of summons for the appearance of the concerned officials before the Commission.

Yashika, a Dalit trans rights activist, who wrote to the NCSC about the incident, spoke to The Probe about the alleged harassment faced by Dalit members of the transgender community. “This is not an isolated case,” she said, “Since last year, Mangalmukhi has been harassing Dalit trans individuals. She mocks us and pressures us to withdraw our fight for horizontal reservations. Despite being a trans woman herself, she has been oppressing us. She belongs to the upper caste and holds power, while we belong to the Dalit community. The truth is that there is immense caste-based oppression within the trans community itself. This incident has exposed the deep-rooted issues and divisions within the trans community.”

The Probe has obtained audio recordings related to the alleged incident, in which trans rights activists claim that the voice on the recording is that of Mangalmukhi, allegedly using abusive language, misogynistic comments, and casteist slurs. After reviewing the recordings, it was evident that the person on the call had indeed used extremely offensive language during the conversation. However, The Probe has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the recordings.

In response to our inquiry about the audio recording, Mangalmukhi denied the allegations, stating, “If you listen to the recordings, it is not my voice. Even if you accept that the voice was mine, then you will see that I have not used any casteist slurs.”

When we asked Mangalmukhi for a comment on the serious allegations levelled against her, she denied the accusations, asserting that the matter was under investigation. “This matter is under investigation. So, I request you to speak to the investigative authorities. Let the investigation get over, and then you will know the truth,” she stated.

Mangalmukhi also addressed the specific claims made by Yashika, who had accused her of using casteist slurs. “Yashika had recently raised several allegations against me that I used casteist slurs. As a member from the trans community, I know what trans people go through. I have myself faced untouchability because I come from the trans community. Why would I indulge in such activities?” she said. 

“When we complained against harassment, the UP Trans Welfare Board Member got an FIR registered against us”

The incident has taken such an ugly turn that as soon as Yashika, the Dalit trans rights activist approached the National Commission for Scheduled Caste, and the Commission took cognisance of the matter on January 3, Mangalmukhi went to the Talkatora Police Station in Lucknow on January 8 and had an FIR registered against four trans rights activists. While the NCSC had written to the UP government to enquire about the matter, the UP police in turn filed an FIR against Yashika, Grace Banu, Jane Kaushik, and Ritwik Das based on Mangalmukhi’s complaint.

The FIR was lodged under Sections 309(4), 351(3), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which cover punishment for robbery involving harm to the victim, severe threats, and intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace. The FIR alleges that the incident of assault and robbery took place on December 22, 2024, at around 6:30 PM. This raises a crucial question: why did Mangalmukhi not report the incident immediately? Why did she approach the police only after the Dalit trans rights activist raised her complaint wth the NCSC?

Yashika, one of the accused in the FIR believes the FIR was filed as an act of retaliation. “Mangalmukhi has political power and she used her political power to register an FIR against us. All the activists against whom the FIR was registered are trans rights activists fighting for horizontal reservation. Because we were fighting for reservation, she got an FIR registered against us, claiming we were trying to rob her. You think people like me, Grace Banu, and other well-known activists would actually rob a UP Trans Welfare Board member?”

Yashika further claimed that Mangalmukhi was perpetuating harmful stereotypes about trans people. “As a member of the UP State Trans Welfare Board, she should be creating a safe environment for us. But instead, she is oppressing us by labelling us as thieves when we were fighting for our rights. The government should immediately take action against her and remove her from her position.”

Grace Banu, a software engineer and a well-known Dalit trans activist, whose name also appears in the FIR, has strongly denied the robbery allegations. She asserts that she has never visited Lucknow in her life and was in Chennai on the day Mangalmukhi claims the alleged assault and robbery occurred.

"I really didn’t know much about Mangalmukhi. I only know through my community members that she has been oppressing Dalit trans community members. I just feel that the UP Trans Welfare Board must be sensitised about how they must deal with the issues facing trans people. There should not be a casteist person in the Board. It is very unfortunate that someone who can abuse and use such casteist slurs can actually be nominated as a person who is supposed to take care of the welfare of the trans community members. I have never been to Lucknow in my entire life; I was in Chennai. These allegations in the FIR are completely baseless," Banu stated.

The FIR alleges that Mangalmukhi was attacked, looted, and defamed on social media. Mangalmukhi in the FIR claims that she was walking in front of her house when the four activists, along with several masked individuals, followed her. According to Mangalmukhi, Yashika stopped her, attacked her, and stole her purse, which contained 2,650 rupees and a pair of bangles. She further claimed that they threatened to rape her, murder her, and throw acid on her. Mangalmukhi also accused them of abusing her and her government and said they were stopping her from pursuing her work.

When The Probe reached out to Mangalmukhi regarding the serious allegations she leveled against the activists, including Jane Kaushik, she stated that she did not know Jane Kaushik. When asked why Jane Kaushik and the others were named in the FIR, Mangalmukhi responded, “Please speak to the investigative officer. I don’t have anything more to say.” 

Despite being questioned about the specific details, Mangalmukhi did not clarify how she knew the names of the activists or how they were allegedly involved in the attack. Throughout the conversation, she only mentioned that she filed the FIR because she was defamed on social media but never once stated that there was a physical attack or robbery involved. When asked why then did she claim she was robbed and physically attacked, she said: “I don’t have anything to say. I don’t think we should interfere with legal proceedings.” When we asked her why she filed the FIR nearly two weeks after the alleged incident, she said: “Please ask the investigating officer. I am very sad.”

Ritwik, another trans rights activist whose name appears in the FIR, states that the UP police had invited two of the activists to conduct a sensitisation program on December 23. “Yashika and I were invited by the UP police to conduct a sensitisation program on December 23. Isn't it ironic that, while we were practicing for the program on December 22, Mangalmukhi slammed us with false allegations of physical assault and robbery? The very fact that the UP police called us for such a program establishes our credentials. The system must step up, listen to the audio conversations, investigate the matter, and expel Mangalmukhi."

The Probe reached out to the Investigating Officer in the case, Dinesh Singh. He stated that the case is "still under investigation" when asked if the Lucknow Police had been able to determine whether the voice recordings were authentic. When asked why the FIR was filed two weeks after the alleged incident, Singh responded, "I cannot comment on it, and the investigation is still underway."

The Fight for Horizontal Reservations for the Trans Community

Vertical and horizontal reservations, though both forms of affirmative action, serve distinct purposes in addressing the needs of marginalised groups. Vertical reservation allocates quotas or reserved seats for specific categories, such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). In contrast, horizontal reservation benefits disadvantaged groups across all categories, irrespective of caste or class, including women, persons with disabilities, and the transgender community.

Horizontal reservation for trans persons ensures a percentage of reserved seats or positions within all categories. This approach guarantees their inclusion in public sector jobs, educational institutions, and other areas, addressing the community's unique challenges while fostering equal representation.

Ritwik highlights the underlying dynamics of the case. “Yashika, Jane Kaushik and Grace Banu come from the Dalit community, and they have long been fighting for horizontal reservations. I only supported them as an activist within the community, but I am shocked and surprised that a false FIR has been registered against me. This is a very vindictive action because our only fault is that we have been fighting for horizontal reservation.”

Ritwik adds, “When people deny that casteism or savarna privilege exists within the trans community, this case is a textbook example of how caste operates in these spaces. Mangalmukhi, being an upper-caste Savarna transgender person holding social capital within bureaucracy, has been able to take such an action against us. This case highlights how caste-based discrimination persists within the trans community also.”

Jane Kaushik, a trans person from the OBC community, has been an ardent advocate for horizontal reservations and the right to work. Reflecting on her experiences, she remarked, “The only thing common among the four of us named in the FIR is that we are all fighting for horizontal reservation. This is not an isolated incident. Even when I was removed from my job after they discovered I was a trans person, Mangalmukhi never supported me. In her critical position in the UP Trans Welfare Board, her sole agenda should be to protect the interests of trans people. But instead of supporting us, she has been oppressing us.”

When The Probe reached out to Mangalmukhi and asked her if she opposed horizontal reservations, as alleged by the activists, Mangalmukhi denied the accusations. “No, I am not against horizontal reservations, but I believe that everyone should get reservations on an equal basis without any discrimination.”

The UP police need to explain on what basis they were quick to register an FIR. A simple conversation with Mangalmukhi to the media itself showed that she had nothing to say about the robbery. But under what evidence did the police file such serious charges against well-known activists?

The fight for horizontal reservations is not merely about quotas; it is a call to acknowledge and address the multi-layered struggles faced by marginalised groups within marginalised communities. As the debate intensifies, it reveals deeper fractures within the transgender rights movement, rooted in caste hierarchies and social privilege.