Shahjahanpur: A video showing IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi doing sit-ups while holding his ears in front of protesting lawyers in Shahjahanpur has gone viral, sparking widespread discussion in administrative and legal circles.
The incident reportedly took place during Rahi’s inspection tour after his recent appointment as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Powayan. According to sources, during the inspection, he spotted a man defecating outside a public toilet and, in a fit of anger, allegedly forced the man to perform sit-ups as punishment.
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Strong Protest From Local Lawyers
The incident triggered strong protests from local lawyers, who staged a dharna (sit-in protest) demanding an apology from the officer for what they claimed was public humiliation of a citizen. In a surprising turn of events, IAS officer Rahi appeared before the protesting lawyers, folded his hands in apology, held his ears, and performed sit-ups in front of the crowd — a gesture captured on video and widely shared on social media.
Later Rahi narrated the whole incident admitting that today was his first day in office. He narrated the whole incident about a man urinating outside public toilet and how he punished that person.
He said the gesture was intended to de-escalate tensions and build better coordination with the local legal community.
Following the apology, the protesting lawyers ended their sit-in.