Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is reportedly preparing to take action against a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) involved in a slapping incident at a Bhilwara petrol pump earlier this week. Officials from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) indicated that an official suspension order for the SDM is expected soon.
This development comes after the release of three staff members from the Bhilwara petrol pump who were apprehended on Wednesday night. They were reportedly involved in a dispute with Chhotulal Sharma, the SDM of Pratapgarh.
Bhilwara Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharmendra Singh stated that the staff members were released on Thursday after peace was restored. He clarified that their arrest was not related to any criminal case but was a measure to maintain law and order, as no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered.
Police reports suggest that SDM Sharma allegedly slapped a petrol pump employee on the Ajmer-Bhilwara national highway in Jaswantpura. The reason cited was the employee’s alleged inappropriate behavior towards Sharma’s wife, Deepika Vyas.
According to SP Singh, Deepika Vyas lodged a complaint stating that one of the staff members had stared at her inappropriately. When Sharma confronted the employee, he and two other staff members allegedly began to assault the SDM.
However, CCTV footage of the incident appears to show Sharma slapping the employee. Sharma has since claimed that the footage was manipulated.
In connection with the incident, police had arrested the three staff members – Deepak Mali, Prabhu Lal Kumawat, and Raja Sharma – on Wednesday night for allegedly causing a disturbance.
“Both parties have submitted their reports. A preliminary inquiry is being conducted on both reports as per Section 173(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). No action has been taken yet. We are currently scrutinizing the CCTV footage and the exact roles of all individuals involved in the incident,” Singh added.
Key Developments
- Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma to take action against the SDM.
- Three petrol pump staff, initially arrested, have been released.
- Investigation is underway to ascertain the facts of the incident, including scrutiny of CCTV footage.
- The SDM claims the CCTV footage showing him slapping an employee was edited.