The Rajasthan state government has suspended Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) officer Chhotu Lal Sharma following widespread public outrage triggered by a viral video showing him involved in a physical altercation with employees at a petrol pump in Jaswantpura, Bhilwara. The suspension order was issued late Thursday night by the Personnel Department, citing administrative reasons for the action.
The order, signed by Dheeraj Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary of the Personnel Department, stated that Sharma, who was posted as Assistant Director in the Public Services, Administrative Reforms and Coordination Department in Pratapgarh, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect. During the suspension period, Sharma is required to report to the Personnel Department headquarters in Jaipur and is prohibited from leaving the city without prior permission from the department.
The government order read, "Chhotu Lal Sharma, R.A.S., Assistant Director, Public Services, Administrative Reforms and Coordination Department, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect by the State Government, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 13 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958, due to administrative reasons."
It further stipulated that Sharma must remain present and available at the Department of Personnel, Government Secretariat, Jaipur, during his suspension and cannot leave the headquarters without departmental approval.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on Tuesday at approximately 3:45 PM at a CNG petrol pump in Jaswantpura village, located near the Lambiya toll on the Ajmer-Bhilwara Highway. Sharma, who previously served as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Mandal, Bhilwara, and is currently posted in Pratapgarh, had visited the petrol pump to fill CNG. A dispute reportedly arose when a petrol pump employee attended to another customer before Sharma, sparking an argument.
The situation escalated when another employee intervened, leading to a physical altercation between Sharma and the petrol pump staff. A video capturing the scuffle quickly spread across social media platforms, intensifying public scrutiny of the incident.
Following the altercation, Sharma’s wife filed a complaint with the police, alleging that the petrol pump employees had misbehaved. Based on this complaint, the police arrested three employees of the petrol pump. However, the viral video also depicted Sharma allegedly misbehaving with the workers and slapping one of them, which fuelled significant outrage among social media users.
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The incident prompted strong reactions from both the public and political figures. Tika Ram Jully, the Leader of Opposition, criticised the police’s handling of the case and called for a fair investigation. He urged the Bhilwara Superintendent of Police (SP) to personally oversee the probe, emphasising that Sharma’s position as an RAS officer should not protect him from accountability.
Jully stated, "The officer's position should not shield him from accountability. No injustice should be done to poor workers because of his influence."
Additionally, the Petrol Pump Association launched a protest in response to the viral video, condemning Sharma’s alleged misconduct and demanding strict action against him. The association’s protest highlighted the broader public discontent with the officer’s behaviour as seen in the video.
The suspension of Chhotu Lal Sharma and the ongoing controversy underscore the public’s demand for accountability and fairness, particularly when it involves individuals in positions of authority. The incident continues to generate significant discussion on social media and among local stakeholders.
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