Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has suspended Chhotu Lal Sharma, a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) posted in Pratapgarh district. The suspension comes after a video circulated widely on social media, showing the officer, Chhotu Lal Sharma, slapping an employee at a petrol pump in Bhilwara. The incident took place on Tuesday.
An official order from the Chief Minister’s Office stated that the RAS officer is suspended with immediate effect as per the Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Act, 1958. During his suspension, Sharma will report to the Department of Personnel in Jaipur.
The altercation occurred when the SDM, who was with his family in his car, engaged in a heated argument with a petrol pump attendant. The video captured the moment the SDM allegedly slapped the employee over a service priority issue.
According to police reports, the SDM stated that he took action because the petrol pump staff had allegedly made inappropriate gestures towards his wife, Deepika Vyas. Vyas reportedly claimed that employees made lewd gestures as the family was seated in their vehicle.
Following the wife’s complaint, three petrol pump staff members were arrested in connection with the incident. They were later released on bail.