A widely circulated video has captured a heated exchange between Pratapgarh Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Chhotu Lal Sharma and staff at a petrol pump, which also offers CNG services. The footage shows Sharma physically assaulting a staff member following a dispute over service priority. The entire incident was recorded on CCTV.
According to reports, the altercation began when the petrol pump employee chose to serve another vehicle before Sharma’s. Following this, a woman identifying herself as Sharma’s wife filed a complaint, leading to the arrest of three petrol pump employees, who were later released on bail.
In a video shared on social media, the woman, Deepika Vyas, stated that the incident occurred while her family was en route to their hometown for Diwali. She claims that petrol pump employees made lewd gestures at her and her infant child while they were seated in their car. Vyas further alleged that their vehicle was deliberately made to wait, with the employee proceeding to serve another car without proper inquiry.
When Sharma inquired about the situation, the dispute escalated. The viral clip includes Sharma asserting his position as the SDM and questioning the staff’s awareness of his presence. The video also shows Sharma slapping the employee twice, and subsequently slapping a staff member who attempted to intervene. The situation then devolved into a physical altercation, with the intervening staff member retaliating.
Adding another layer to the controversy, certain reports question the legitimacy of Vyas’s marital status with SDM Sharma. An India Today report suggests that Sharma is legally married to Poonam Sharma, who reportedly lives separately with their children after being allegedly forced out of their home. The reports also mention that Sharma has a history of being removed from his post multiple times throughout his career. Sharma has not yet responded to these allegations.