Firozabad DM controversy: Ramesh Ranjan accused, Rakhi Sharma under investigation; the whole matter

Uttar Pradesh A major administrative dispute has come to light in Firozabad district. Some serious allegations were made against 2013 batch IAS officer and District Magistrate Ramesh Ranjan, but administrative officials have termed these allegations as completely baseless. On the other hand, a departmental inquiry is already going on against Tehsildar Rakhi Sharma who made the allegation.

According to administration sources, District Magistrate Ramesh Ranjan issued an order to transfer Tehsildar Rakhi Sharma. Immediately after that Rakhi Sharma started making serious allegations against the DM. Officials say questions arise over both the timing and motive of the allegations. They believe that these allegations appear to have been made in retaliation for the transfer.

What were the previous cases against Rakhi Sharma?

Tehsildar Rakhi Sharma was posted in Tundla. According to officials, several investigations were pending against him even before his transfer. There was a negative note in his service record. Due to which his salary was also stopped for some time. Rakhi Sharma had filed a petition in Allahabad High Court against the decision to stop salary. But the court did not give him any relief. On the contrary, the court ordered an investigation into the matter. Apart from this, the Commissioner of Agra also rejected his appeal, that is, his case was not considered strong even at the administrative level.

What allegations did Rakhi Sharma make?

Rakhi Sharma called a press conference and accused DM Ramesh Ranjan of:

DM harassed and harassed him

Asked from him expensive things like iPhone and Apple Watch, the total value of which was around Rs 1.75 lakh.

His salary was withheld for several months

He was being harassed mentally and administratively for a long time.

He appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that there should be a fair investigation in this matter and his side should be heard.

Administration response

Administrative officials are giving their reaction on these allegations. He says that making such allegations publicly after transfer can be a violation of Civil Service Conduct Rules. No concrete evidence has yet been provided in support of the allegations. These allegations appear to have been made due to resentment over the transfer. The district administration has exercised great restraint in this entire matter. He has said that the investigating agencies have been given complete freedom. Whatever investigation will be done, it will be completely impartial and based on evidence.

Who is Ramesh Ranjan?

Ramesh Ranjan is a 2013 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. He had secured 76th rank in UPSC Civil Services Examination. He is a B.Tech in Electronics Engineering from NIT Calicut. Before this, he had also been the District Magistrate in Kushinagar and Hathras districts. Apart from this, he has also handled important responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission and UP Jal Nigam. From March 11, 2024, he is working on the post of District Magistrate and Collector of Firozabad district.

What do experts say?

This case has once again exposed the complexities of the administrative system. Many supervisors say that transparency is very important in such disputes. Officials believe that to reduce such cases in future, there is a need for better coordination between departments and strong institutional accountability. As the investigation progresses, the truth will emerge. At present, the administration’s stance is that the entire process should be allowed to be completed in a fair manner without any pressure. This will maintain both good governance and public confidence.