Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer Chotu Lal Sharma, who allegedly beat up petrol pump attendants for filling fuel in other than his car, has been suspended.
Sharma, a 2015 batch officer serving as Assistant Director in Pratapgarh district, will have to report at the Secretariat in Jaipur during suspension period.
Why Chotu Lal Sharma was suspended?
Chotu Lal Sharma was caught in CCTV camera manhandling and abusing petrol pump attendants at a pump in Bhilwara for not filling fuel in his car first. He claimed that the pump attendant ignored him despite he being SDM – the post on which he had served from July 2024 to July 2025 before being sent on APO and the later transferred to Dungarpur as Assistant Director Public Services, Administrative Reforms and Coordination department.
Sharma was on his way to be at his home for first Diwali after his brother's death. He was traveling with his wife and kids when his car ran out of fuel (CNG). He got furious when the pump attendant jump over and intended to fill fuel in a car which was behind his car. He came out of his car and pushed the attendant while intimidating him of his status. He slapped the other attendant who came to mediate. Then the other attendant too exchanged blows with him enraging Sharma further.
The RAS officer then filed FIR against the three pump attendants – Deepak Mali, Prabhu Lal Kumawat and Raja Sharma – who were arrested for disturbing peace. They were later released.
RAS wife accused pump attendants of outraging the modesty
Wife of RAS officer Deepika Vyas, who was travelling along with him, accused pump attendants of winking, giving inappropriate signal and vulgar comment like Kya Maal Lag Rahi Hai. However, these alleged acts of pump attendants were not caught in any of the CCTV cameras.
The state government, however decided to suspend the RAS officer after the episode was much discussed on all social media platforms questioning the conduct of a public servant.
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