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UP’s New SDM Rinku Singh Rahi Performs Sit-Ups in Front of Advocates to Acknowledge Tehsil Filth

Rinku Singh Rahi, SDM Rinku Singh Rahi, IAS officer Rinku Rahi,
Rinku Singh Rahi, SDM Rinku Singh Rahi, IAS officer Rinku Rahi,

 

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh — July 30, 2025 — In an extraordinary display of accountability on his first day as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Puwaiyan tehsil, IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi publicly performed sit‑ups while holding his ears to apologize for poor cleanliness at the tehsil premises. The unexpected action took place during a tense confrontation with a group of protesting advocates over sanitation issues. 

Rahi assumed charge around 2 PM and began an inspection of the tehsil compound. During the walk‑through, he spotted a clerk urinating just outside a toilet. In response, Rahi made the clerk perform sit‑ups on the spot. This punitive act stirred immediate opposition from lawyers gathered over unrelated issues concerning delays in issuing EWS certificates. 

When the advocates questioned whether it was appropriate for the clerk to be humiliated, they challenged the SDM to do the same if he truly stood by his principle. In a surprising move, Rahi held his ears and completed five sit-ups himself, declaring: “If it's our fault, I accept it.” His gesture aimed to own responsibility for the unclean premises and diffuse rising tensions. 

Rahi explained that while he had earlier instructed people to use toilets, persistent defiance necessitated corrective measures. He pointed out that the courthouse grounds were littered and poorly maintained. The sit-up act, he said, symbolized his commitment to maintaining hygiene and discipline within public spaces, making clear that the administration was accountable. 

The sequence of events was captured in a video that quickly went viral on social media, drawing both praise and criticism. Some hailed his humility and symbolic leadership, while others dismissed it as performative theatrics unbecoming of a senior official. Nonetheless, the gesture succeeded in calming the protest—the advocates agreed to suspend their strike temporarily following his apology and physical demonstration of remorse. 

The incident highlights the challenges of public administration at the grassroots level, particularly in tehsil offices where inadequate infrastructure and lax sanitation are long-standing issues. Rahi’s actions brought renewed focus to the expectation of cleanliness and discipline in official environments.

Rinku Singh Rahi, part of the 2022 IAS cohort, has previously earned recognition for exposing corruption early in his career while serving as Social Welfare Officer in Muzaffarnagar. He survived a life-threatening attack in 2009 after uncovering a multi-crore scam, later clearing the UPSC exam on his 16th attempt despite injuries that impaired his vision and jaw. 

Now posted in Shahjahanpur after a transfer from Mathura, Rahi has rapidly become a symbol of bold leadership and administrative integrity. His decision to reclaim responsibility physically in public rather than rely solely on statements reflects a rare approach in bureaucratic circles.

As Brahmin practitioners and clerks within the tehsil offices resume operations, local administration is expected to launch deep cleaning initiatives, upgrade restroom facilities, and build rapport with the legal fraternity. The incident may set a precedent for public-sector officials to embrace direct accountability and humility in public service delivery.

While Rahi’s gesture may raise eyebrows in some quarters, few doubt he has sent a clear message: leadership begins with example, and responsibility must be taken—visibly and sincerely—at every level of governance.

On his very first day as SDM of Puwayan tehsil, IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi not only acknowledged administrative lapses but physically demonstrated accountability through sit-ups before protesting advocates. The unusual act diffused a tense standoff, underlining the need for cleanliness and discipline in government offices.

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