Gwalior court declares BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi's son Dinesh absconding in SC/ST case
Synopsis
A Gwalior special court has declared BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi's son Dinesh Lodhi an absconder under the SC/ST Atrocities Act — the latest in a string of serious criminal cases against him, including an SUV hit-and-run involving five people and an earlier attempt-to-murder arrest. A permanent warrant is now in force, and police have been ordered to produce him before the court.
Key Takeaways
A Gwalior special court declared Dinesh Lodhi , son of BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi , an absconder under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .
The court issued a permanent arrest warrant and directed police to produce him before the bench.
An initial arrest warrant was first issued in December 2023 ; police were unable to trace him.
In April 2025 , Shivpuri Police registered a separate case after his SUV allegedly hit five people near Karera.
He was previously arrested in an attempt-to-murder case in Gwalior involving his SUV.
BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi , who represents Pichhore constituency in Shivpuri district, has not commented on the court order.
A special court in Gwalior has declared Dinesh Lodhi, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Pritam Lodhi, an absconder in a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The order was passed after Dinesh Lodhi repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite multiple warrants being issued against him.
What the Court Ordered
The Special Court for SC/ST Act cases in Gwalior issued a permanent arrest warrant against Dinesh Lodhi and directed police to apprehend him and produce him before the bench. According to reports, the court passed the absconder declaration only after proclamation proceedings were formally completed before it.
The case itself is registered at Purani Chhawani police station in Gwalior. An arrest warrant had first been issued against Dinesh Lodhi in December 2023, but police subsequently informed the court that the warrant could not be executed as the accused could not be traced.
Pattern of Criminal Cases Against Dinesh Lodhi
This is not the first time Dinesh Lodhi has faced legal scrutiny. In April 2025, Shivpuri Police registered a case against him after his Thar SUV allegedly struck five people — including pedestrians and motorcycle riders — near Karera. Videos related to that incident surfaced on social media and triggered a political controversy.
Prior to that, he was arrested in an attempt-to-murder case in Gwalior, where he was accused of attempting to run over a man with his SUV. That incident had also drawn considerable public attention at the time.
No Response from the Lodhi Family
BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi, who represents the Pichhore Assembly constituency in Shivpuri district, has not issued any statement regarding the latest court order. Neither Dinesh Lodhi nor his legal counsel had offered any immediate response as of the time of reporting.
What Happens Next
Police have been formally directed to execute the permanent arrest warrant and secure Dinesh Lodhi's appearance before the court. Given his history of non-compliance with earlier warrants, authorities face pressure to demonstrate that the court's order is enforced without further delay.
Point of View
An SUV hit-and-run injuring five, and an attempt-to-murder charge — paints a pattern that courts and police cannot credibly treat as isolated incidents. The silence from the BJP MLA father, and the absence of any statement from the accused or his counsel, will do little to dispel public perception that political cover is being sought.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Dinesh Lodhi been declared an absconder by the Gwalior court?
Dinesh Lodhi was declared an absconder because he repeatedly failed to appear before the Gwalior special court despite multiple warrants being issued against him in a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police also informed the court that an earlier warrant issued in December 2023 could not be executed as he could not be traced.
Who is Pritam Lodhi and what is his connection to this case?
Pritam Lodhi is a BJP MLA representing the Pichhore Assembly constituency in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh. Dinesh Lodhi is his son and the accused in the SC/ST atrocities case. Pritam Lodhi has not issued any public statement on the court order.
What other criminal cases is Dinesh Lodhi facing?
Dinesh Lodhi faces at least two other serious cases. In April 2025, Shivpuri Police registered a case against him after his Thar SUV allegedly hit five people near Karera. He was also previously arrested in an attempt-to-murder case in Gwalior, where he was accused of trying to run over a man with his SUV.
What action has the court directed police to take?
The Gwalior special court has issued a permanent arrest warrant against Dinesh Lodhi and directed police to execute it immediately, arresting him and producing him before the court without further delay.
What is the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act?
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is a central law designed to prevent crimes and atrocities against members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in India. Cases under this Act are heard by designated special courts, and offences are non-bailable in nature.
