A senior IAS officer from Bihar posted in Jammu and Kashmir has come under criticism after a video purportedly showing him using abusive language against a woman colleague during an official virtual meeting circulated widely on social media.
The officer has been identified as Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary of the Union Territory’s Labour and Employment Department. The woman officer is Beenish Wani, an officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) who serves as Assistant Director of Employment.
According to sources, the exchange took place during a review meeting related to Mission YUVA, convened to assess progress under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
In the circulating video, Ranjan appears to lose his temper and shout at Wani. He can allegedly be heard using an expletive against her and asserting his authority by saying, “I am your boss.”
Wani confirmed that the incident had taken place and said the video was neither morphed nor generated using artificial intelligence. She said she had joined the meeting remotely from home despite being on leave because of a fractured foot.
“The dignity of a woman should be protected. No one can treat us like that,” she said.
Ranjan, according to reports, expressed regret over his remarks, saying he was sorry if he had said something inappropriate in the heat of the moment.
He alleged, however, that Wani had continued to provoke him despite being repeatedly asked to remain quiet.
“If we will not even question officers, then how will we hold review meetings and fix responsibility?” he said.
Ranjan also alleged that Wani had used objectionable language during the exchange, including the phrase “hell with you”. He questioned how the administrative hierarchy could function if junior officers used such language towards their seniors.
He urged people to watch the complete recording of the hour-long meeting before drawing conclusions, arguing that the circulating clips did not provide the full context of the confrontation.
Meanwhile, National Conference legislator Tanvir Sadiq said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had taken serious note of the incident and written to the Chief Secretary to ensure that Wani did not face any retribution.
“The Hon’ble @CM_JnK @OmarAbdullah has taken serious note of the matter and written to the Chief Secretary to ensure that the JKAS officer faces no retribution,” Sadiq said in a post on X.
“Accountability must prevail, and no one should be allowed to misuse their position to intimidate or victimise others,” he added.
Following the controversy, the Jammu and Kashmir Labour and Employment Department issued a statement addressing the videos circulating on social media.
The department said mutual respect, discipline and professional conduct were essential during official interactions. It added that officers and officials were expected to maintain appropriate decorum and that provocative remarks and inappropriate language had no place in administrative proceedings.
The department also expressed concern over what it described as the circulation of selectively edited clips without the full context of the meeting. It said the videos being shared were unverified and warned that selective editing of internal discussions could give a misleading impression of the proceedings.
The department said the matter would be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.
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