‘SDM hoon main’: Rajasthan bureaucrat, petrol pump staff trade slaps after heated argument in Bhilwara

The altercation, which occurred on Tuesday, was caught on CCTV cameras along with the audio.

A heated argument broke out between a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer and petrol pump workers at a CNG pump on the Ajmer-Bhilwara Highway. The altercation, which occurred on Tuesday, was caught on CCTV cameras along with the audio.

Following this, three petrol pump employees have been arrested. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media in which Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Chhotu Lal Sharma can be seen getting out of his car and shouting, “ SDM hhon main yahan ka (I am the SDM here),” before slapping a pump attendant for filling another customer’s car first.

SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma from Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, allegedly slapped a petrol pump staff member for not serving him first.

The staff retaliated, leading to their arrest. Meanwhile, the SDM’s wife claimed the staff misbehaved with her, though CCTV footage shows no proof of this. pic.twitter.com/XJLhBrqi8p

— Lakshay Mehta (@lakshaymehta08) October 22, 2025

As another petrol pump employee tried to intervene, Sharma slapped him, prompting the employee to slap him back, police said.

The CCTV footage shows the officer hitting a staff member, who retaliated in self-defence. After the scuffle, police detained the petrol pump employees.

Meanwhile, Sharma’s wife, according to media reports, alleged that the petrol pump staff had misbehaved with her, but CCTV footage from the site shows no evidence to support her claim.

Police were quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that three pump employees — Deepak Mali, Prabhu Lal Kumawat and Raja Sharma — have been arrested in connection with the incident. The matter is being further investigated.

Local authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.