Madhya Pradesh: A video has emerged showing Bhind District Collector Sanjeev Shrivastava repeatedly slapping a student at an exam centre, sparking outrage on social media and calls for disciplinary action. The incident, which took place on April 1 during an examination conducted by Jiwaji University at Deendayal Danroliya College, was brought to light after CCTV footage surfaced online on Saturday.
In the clip, Collector Shrivastava is seen interrogating a student and slapping him several times after he fails to respond to questions. Speaking to media on Sunday, Shrivastava defended his actions, claiming his "strictness" helped bust an organised mass copying racket at the centre.
He said the action followed complaints of widespread cheating during university exams. “We had received specific inputs about mass copying. On reaching the centre, things initially appeared normal. But this boy only had the answer sheet and no question paper. When I pressed him, he revealed that two mathematics teachers were solving the paper outside the premises and planned to return it for mass dictation,” Shrivastava said.
The student in question, Rohit Rathore, was subsequently barred from the exam and booked for academic misconduct, accused of smuggling his BSc Physics question paper out for it to be solved externally.
However, Rathore offered a different account. Speaking to reporters after the video went viral, he said, “I had stepped out to use the toilet and returned to find my question paper missing. The collector came and slapped me without asking for an explanation. My ear hurt, and I was not given a chance to speak before a cheating case was filed.”
Collector Shrivastava claimed that he later recommended Jiwaji University revoke the recognition of the exam centre. “The college belongs to the father-in-law of Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hemant Katare. After I moved to scrap the centre’s status, the management released the CCTV footage,” he alleged.
The incident has drawn criticism from political leaders. Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Yash Bhartiya demanded a high-level inquiry and stern action against the collector. Posting the video on social media platform X, he labelled the IAS officer “violent” and said the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had recently questioned Shrivastava’s conduct in an unrelated Public Works Department case, urging the state Chief Secretary to review his fitness for field duty.
Adding to the controversy, Bhind Tehsildar Mala Sharma has also accused Shrivastava and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Parag Jain of mental harassment.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of force by administrative officials and the handling of alleged academic malpractice.
With PTI inputs