Lucknow/Shahjahanpur – In a dramatic turn of events, IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi was transferred within 24 hours of assuming office as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Puwayan in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The move came after a video surfaced online showing him performing sit-ups in front of protesting lawyers — a gesture he described as a symbol of accountability, but which quickly turned into a political flashpoint.
Rahi, a 2022-batch officer and a survivor of a near-fatal gun attack linked to his whistleblowing past, took charge on July 29 at 2 p.m. Within hours, an altercation over poor sanitation spiraled into a public controversy, leading to his transfer by nightfall to the Board of Revenue in Lucknow — making his one of the shortest tenures ever recorded for an SDM in the state.
A Confrontation Over Cleanliness Turns Political
According to district officials, the sequence of events began when Rahi undertook an inspection of the tehsil premises shortly after assuming charge. During the round, he noticed a clerk, identified as Vijay (38), urinating in the open. The clerk worked for a local lawyer, Ajnyaram.
Disturbed by the act, Rahi admonished the clerk and asked him to use the toilets. When Vijay responded that the facilities were in a deplorable condition, the SDM allegedly instructed him to perform sit-ups as a corrective measure.
What followed was an unexpected backlash. Lawyers staging a separate protest nearby learned of the incident and confronted the officer, accusing him of publicly humiliating the clerk. When challenged to undergo the same punishment himself, Rahi surprised onlookers by agreeing.
“There is no shame in acknowledging failure,” Rahi said, addressing the crowd. “If I expect discipline from others, I must hold myself to the same standard.”
Before he could be dissuaded, Rahi bent down, held his ears, and performed five sit-ups in front of the assembled lawyers and clerks. He then publicly committed to resolving the sanitation issues, calling the state of public toilets a “failure of the administration.”
Viral Video Sparks Mixed Reactions
The video of the officer’s unusual act spread rapidly across social media, drawing both praise and criticism. While some lauded his humility and willingness to admit institutional shortcomings, others questioned whether the display compromised the dignity of the civil service.
By evening, the Uttar Pradesh government announced Rahi’s transfer. Shahjahanpur ADM (Administration) Rajneesh Mishra confirmed the move, stating that ADM (Judicial) Rashid Ali Khan had been sent to mediate and gather feedback from both sides. “The matter is under review and a final decision will be taken after consultations,” Mishra said.
A Life Defined by Integrity and Adversity
For Rahi, the episode is the latest in a career marked by courage and resilience. Born in Hathras and educated in government schools, he completed his B.Tech from Jamshedpur with the support of scholarships.
In 2004, he cleared the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Services (PCS) exam and was posted in 2008 as the District Social Welfare Officer in Muzaffarnagar. It was there that he exposed a ₹100-crore scam in scholarship and pension funds — a move that allegedly made him a target.
On March 26, 2009, while playing badminton with a colleague, Rahi was ambushed and shot seven times, including twice in the face. The attack left him blind in one eye, partially deaf, and with severe facial disfigurement. He spent a month in critical care in Meerut, undergoing multiple surgeries.
Despite his injuries, Rahi continued to pursue justice, filing Right to Information (RTI) requests related to the scam. In 2012, frustrated by bureaucratic silence, he staged a hunger strike outside the Social Welfare Directorate in Lucknow. The police responded by forcibly admitting him to a mental health facility — an act that drew public outrage.
Refusing to give up, Rahi appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2021 under the disability quota. He secured an All India Rank of 683 and joined the Indian Administrative Service the following year at the age of 40.
“Being Dalit Is a Bigger Punishment Than Sit-Ups”
Speaking after the incident, Rahi offered a candid reflection on the layers of challenges he has faced. “The clerk said he wouldn’t use the toilet. I wanted to teach him discipline. But when the lawyers asked me to do the same, I agreed. Doing sit-ups is not the punishment — being Dalit is the punishment I endure every day,” he said.
He emphasized that his intent was never to humiliate anyone, but to highlight the importance of hygiene and accountability. He assured lawyers that toilet facilities would be cleaned and maintained going forward.
Debate Over Dignity vs. Accountability
The Shahjahanpur episode has sparked a broader debate over whether Rahi’s actions reflect rare moral courage or a misstep in protocol. Supporters say he exemplified servant leadership and transparency, while critics argue that bowing to public demands in such a manner could erode the perceived authority of civil servants.
As the state government weighs its next move, the episode stands as a powerful testament to one officer’s personal code of integrity — and the complex intersections of caste, power, and responsibility in Indian public life.
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