J&K Govt Orders 15-Day Inquiry into IAS Officer Ranjan's Abuse

On Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir government announced a 15‑day inquiry into IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan for using abusive language toward a junior woman colleague during an online meeting.

The video, which quickly went viral, captured Ranjan shouting, ‘Shut up. Shut up. Don’t explain,’ while Assistant Director Beenish Wani raised concerns about coordination gaps in the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. When Wani objected to being interrupted, Ranjan reportedly called her a ‘by st’ and threatened suspension.

Commissioner‑Secretary Mandeep Kaur of the Housing and Urban Development Department has been appointed as the inquiry officer, while Additional Secretary Amit Vermani of the General Administration Department will preside over the probe. The final report is due within 15 days.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, upon learning of the incident, wrote to Chief Secretary Atul Dulloo, urging that no retaliatory action be taken against Wani.

The incident has reignited calls for stricter conduct guidelines for civil servants, especially in an era where digital recordings expose misconduct.