A government official in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district has accused an MLA of the ruling BJP and his supporters of assaulting him. The official, on the other hand, is accused of misbehaving with a female relative of the MLA. The official and the MLA, along with his supporters, have been booked in separate FIRs.
Tushar Manik, a Nayab (deputy) Tehsildar posted in Rajapur Tehsil under Mainpat Tehsil, alleged that Ramkumar Toppo, who represents the Sitapur constituency in the State Assembly, assaulted him on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) after accusing him of misbehaving with MLA’s relative when she visited his office for official work. He denied misbehaving with the woman.
Tushar Manik, a Nayab (deputy) Tehsildar posted in Rajapur under Mainpat Tehsil, alleged that Ramkumar Toppo, the MLA representing the Sitapur constituency, assaulted him on Wednesday. Mr. Toppo allegedly accused Mr. Manik of misbehaving with a relative who had visited the office for official work. Manik denied misbehaving with the woman.
Mr. Manik told journalists that an elderly woman visited his office on Wednesday with documents related to the issuance of a shodh kshamta praman patra (solvency certificate) required for the parole-related formalities of prisoners.
“However, I told her that the required form accompanying the jail department letter was incomplete. She said that she would get it filled. I stayed in the office until 5 pm but no one came [with the filled form]. After 5 p.m., another woman arrived and insisted that I sign the document immediately,” he said.
Mr. Manik added that he told the woman that his reader, who would help with the signing process, was absent and would return the following day and it wouldn’t be possible to fill up the form immediately.
“I told her to come the next day, and I would sign the file after my reader reports for duty, but she insisted that I sign the file immediately,” he said. The official also said that he left office without signing the file but refuted charges of misbehaviour.
“I did not misbehave with her, but she said, ‘Why did I ask who she was? ‘” he added.
Official alleges assault
Mr. Manik said that when he returned home, Mr. Toppo’s personal assistant called him and asked him to meet the legislator in Rajapur, so he went there with SDM Fagesh Sinha.
“The MLA was waiting with a bunch of his supporters. Some of them started assaulting me. The MLA then pulled me out. He called the woman who is said to be his cousin. Then the MLA also assaulted me. The SDM intervened and rescued me,” Mr. Manik alleged.
While Mr. Toppo was unavailable, a relative spoke to the media and alleged that Mr. Manik had spoken to her rudely and refused to do the official work she had gone there for. “He pushed and abused me, used casteist remarks, and behaved inappropriately,” she claimed.
Surguja Collector Ajeet Vasant said both sides have lodged complaints against each other.
Published – May 28, 2026 10:57 pm IST
