Chandigarh: An IAS officer’s Haryana-based father was arrested Wednesday under the SC/ST Act for making casteist comments about another IAS officer during a traders’ protest Tuesday.
Ashok Swami, who has a kulfi and sweet shop in Charkhi Dadri, is the father of Saurabh Swami, a 2015-batch IAS officer now posted as district magistrate at Ganganagar in Rajasthan.
He made the comments at a protest against waterlogging in the market area following rains, and targeted Preeti, also an IAS officer of the 2015 batch who serves as Charkhi Dadri deputy commissioner.
Jitender Kumar, the local agriculture development officer, who was assigned the charge of duty magistrate during the traders’ protest, lodged a formal police complaint against Swami the same evening at the Charkhi Dadri City police station.
Contacted by ThePrint Thursday, Station House Officer Raj Kumar confirmed as much, saying an FIR had been registered under IPC Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements creating or promoting public mischief) and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
“Ashok Swami was produced in court Wednesday and was sent to judicial custody,” he added.
While Section 504 of the IPC is a non-cognizable, bailable, and compoundable offence and carries imprisonment for up to 2 years, Section 505 is a cognisable and non-bailable offence and attracts imprisonment up to 3 years with fine.
The offences under the SC/ST Act are also cognisable and non-bailable, and can lead to imprisonment for at least six months and up to five years.
ThePrint called Saurabh Swami on his mobile for a comment, but he said he was busy and would call later. A message sent to him didn’t elicit a reply.
ThePrint called Preeti for comment, but a man who identified himself as part of her staff said she was busy. Subsequent calls went unanswered, as did a message sent on WhatsApp.
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What he said
A video of the protest, which has gone viral, shows Swami taking the mic at the protest and, as he expressed anger at the “failure” of the authorities to drain out the rainwater, he started raising questions on Preeti’s effectiveness.
Swami, a member of the backward classes, cited her caste and said this was the reason she had gotten into the civil services despite getting a lower rank in the UPSC.
The traders gathered for the protest, which took place at Ambedkar Chowk, didn’t appreciate Swami’s comments and started shouting at him, asking him to sit down, as seen in the video. Some people tried to snatch his mic, but he continued speaking.
Satyaveer Chauhan, a Dalit municipal councillor, is heard saying that the agitation didn’t look like a protest against waterlogging, but a platform for hitting out at people because of their castes.
Towards the end of his speech, Swami said he was sorry if his comments had hurt anyone.
Satyaveer Singh Chauhan, who represents Ward 14 in the Charkhi Dadri Municipal Council, told ThePrint the Dalit community wants exemplary punishment for Ashok Swami so that it proves a deterrent for others.
“Traders cutting across castes and communities have been approaching me and extending their support. They all are of the view that Swami should get the punishment he deserves for his utterances,” said Chauhan.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)