GONDA: Can Indian government officials take action against God? Well, a man sought action against Indra Dev (Rain God) for deficient rains in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.
A farmer named Sumit Kumar Yadav submitted a complaint against the God of Rain at a Sampurna Samadhan Divas camp organized on July 16.
To add to the shocker, Tehsildar Narsingh Narayan Verma allegedly forwarded the application to the officials concerned for necessary action.
In his letter, complainant Yadav, who described himself as a resident of Jhala in Colonelganj, said, “It has not rained for the last several months, which has caused a great deal of trouble to common people.”
“The situation has caused adverse effects on animals and agriculture. Due to this (absence of rains), women and children in families are facing great difficulties. Therefore, I request you to take necessary action,” the complaint letter further reads.
As the complaint application went viral on social media with netizens making fun of the district officials, district magistrate Ujjal Kumar order chief revenue officer (CRO) Jai Yadav to conduct an inquiry against the Tehsildar.
Speaking to The New Indian over the phone, Tehsildar Verma said, “The application circulating online is fake. We have never received any such complaint. I have shown to the CRO that the signature on the viral letter does not match with my actual sign.”
He said wherever a complaint/request is received, its record is maintained in the official register. “As per our register, application number 684 (which is marked on the complaint letter) pertains to another man named Punit Yadav. His request was related to the police department so it was forwarded to the police station for necessary action,” he added.
Yadav’s complaint bears the signature of an advocate, Barkhandi Gupta who denied having any links with the application.
“I use a feature phone so did not receive the viral letter. I got to know only when someone showed it to me. The RCO visited my residence on Sunday. I have given my signature sample, which does not match the one on the application,” Gupta said.
Meanwhile, the Colonelganj police have registered an FIR against Yadav on the charge of cheating.
“Based on the complaint of the Tehsildar, the police have registered an FIR under Sections 219 (punishment for cheating by personation) and 420 (cheating). An investigation has been initiated,” a police official told The New Indian over the phone.