On 14 June 2024, a clip of a Mission YUVA review meeting surfaced, showing Secretary Kumar Rajeev Ranjan’s tone escalating until he shouted at Assistant Director Beenish Wani.
The meeting, convened to assess progress on the National Rural Livelihood Mission, had drawn senior staff from across the state, but the heated exchange drew no one’s attention until the recording was shared online.
Wani, who was on leave with a fractured foot, joined the call from home; she later confirmed that the clip was not edited or AI‑generated, insisting the exchange was genuine.
Ranjan, when contacted, apologized for “the heat of the moment” but insisted he was triggered by Wani’s “provocative remarks,” claiming the exchange was a legitimate response to her perceived disrespect.
The Labour & Employment Department issued a statement stressing that mutual respect and professional decorum are mandatory, warning that selective edits could mislead the public, and said the matter would be resolved through applicable rules and regulations.
Officials also noted that the incident has sparked a debate over workplace conduct in state services, with some petitioning the government to strengthen harassment policies.