Collector of Chhattisgarh's Surajpur replaced after video shows him hitting man

Surajpur, May 23

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Chhattisgarh government on Sunday appointed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Gaurav Kumar Singh as the new Collector of Surajpur replacing Ranbir Sharma who was removed from the post after a controversial video went viral in which he was seen slapping a youth.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the incident was condemnable and that he has directed the District Collector to be removed from charge immediately.

“Misbehaviour by an official is unacceptable. I am upset about this incident. I apologise to the youth and his family,” Baghel had tweeted in Hindi.

In videos circulating on social media, Ranbir Sharma is seen slapping a man who attempts to show him a piece of paper and explain why he was outside during the lockdown. Sharma then throws the man’s phone on the road and asks some accompanying policemen to hit him.

Sharma had later issued a video statement explaining that the man in the viral video had lied to officials that he was on vacation and there was no proper documentation to justify his claim and the person also misbehaved with officials.

He also issued a public apology for his outburst stating that his intention was never to disrespect anybody.

Meanwhile, the man in the videos has been charged under the Epidemic Diseases Act for violating Covid-19 norms. — ANI

सोशल मीडिया के माध्यम से सूरजपुर कलेक्टर रणबीर शर्मा द्वारा एक नवयुवक से दुर्व्यवहार का मामला मेरे संज्ञान में आया है।

यह बेहद दुखद और निंदनीय है। छत्तीसगढ़ में इस तरह का कोई कृत्य कतई बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जाएगा।

कलेक्टर रणबीर शर्मा को तत्काल प्रभाव से हटाने के निर्देश दिए हैं।

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) May 23, 2021

Filed complaint with @NCPCR_ seeking directions to Chhatisgarh State Police officials to register FIR against Mr. @RanbirSharmaIAS, Surajpur District Collector, Chhattisgarh under sections of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 for assaulting a Minor Boy publicly along with his Police Men pic.twitter.com/Juv1ENAjSx

— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) May 23, 2021