SP MP Iqra Hasan says Saharanpur additional district magistrate ‘misbehaved’ with her, probe ordered

Singh has denied the allegations.

According to Hasan, on July 1, she accompanied Parveen, who wanted to meet Singh. “I was at the Collectorate. She came to meet me and asked for help. She had been waiting for him from 12 pm to 3 pm after she was informed that he was having lunch. I called the ADM thrice and he did not answer my call,” Hasan said.

The ADM reached his office at 3.30 pm, she added. “When we met, we told him that all we wanted was that he ensure better coordination between the Nagar Nigam (municipal corporation) and the executive officer, and that we did not want to initiate any formal complaint against the officer,” Hasan said.

Hasan alleged that Singh sought a written complaint and “used a harsh tone” when Parveen brought some other issues to his notice. “I intervened as I found it objectionable and initiated a formal complaint,” she said.

“What happened to me was very unfortunate. We talk to officials every day. Not everyone is like that,” Hasan said.

Following this alleged incident, Hasan lodged a formal complaint with the principal secretary, Atal Kumar Rai, Saharanpur Divisional Commissioner, and Manish Bansal, District Magistrate, Saharanpur.

In her letter to the officials, she sought an impartial investigation into the matter, saying, “All public servants should discharge their duties with fairness, honesty and courtesy. Apart from this, it is clearly mentioned in the circular dated 12 August 2019 of the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh that disrespectful behavior towards public representatives will be considered serious misconduct and strict disciplinary action will be taken for this. This behavior of Shri Santosh Bahadur is a clear violation of the said circular and conduct rules.”

Hasan also said that she would place the matter before the Privileges Committee and asked that Singh be sent for training.

Taking cognisance of the matter, Rai directed Bansal to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. “The matter is being looked into. A report regarding the incident will be sent to the government once the investigation is completed,” Bansal said, confirming the ongoing probe.

However, ADM Singh on Wednesday denied the accusations. In a statement to the media, he asserted, “I was out in the field when the public representative came to my office. My phone was on silent mode, and that is why I missed her call. When I was informed of her presence in my office, I reached the office and asked her to give her complaint in writing. The allegations that I misbehaved with her are baseless.”

The incident also drew a strong reaction from SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who took to X on Wednesday, posting, “Those who do not respect Members of Parliament what they will do to the public.”

Hasan also took to X and wrote, “Jo kursi se taqat ka nasha kar baithe, auron ki ijjat ko dhul samajh baithe, woh bhul gye hai ye Hindustan hai, yha nari nhi khud samvidhan hai. ( Those who have become intoxicated with power and consider the respect of others as dust, have forgotten that this is India, this is not a woman but the Constitution itself).”