Avinash Azad
Facing mounting public outrage over a purported video of a senior IAS officer allegedly abusing a woman JKAS officer during a virtual review meeting, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered a high-level inquiry and sought a report within 15 days.
According to Government Order No. 1654-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Mandeep Kaur, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer (IO).
The controversy erupted after a purported video clip circulated on social media, allegedly showing a tense exchange during an online review meeting of Mission YUVA held on October 14. Senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan was allegedly seen using abusive and threatening language against woman JKAS officer Beenish Wani.
The IO has been directed to conduct a detailed fact-finding investigation, fix responsibility, and submit a comprehensive report to the government within 15 days. Amit Vermani, JKAS, Additional Secretary in the GAD, has been designated as the Presenting Officer to assist in the proceedings. The incident has triggered strong reactions across the Union Territory, sharpening focus on workplace decorum, administrative hierarchy and safeguards available to civil servants.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said that if Jammu and Kashmir had full statehood, the accused IAS officer would have been immediately attached to the GAD pending the inquiry. He said the authorities controlling the IAS cadre must set an appropriate precedent so that threatening or abusive conduct is not overlooked. The J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) Association condemned the incident and demanded strict institutional accountability. It also called for a one-day pen-down strike in solidarity with the targeted officer. Other employee bodies, including the EJAC, have backed demands for a transparent and time-bound investigation. The GAD order said the inquiry aims to fix responsibility and maintain professional decorum across administrative platforms in the Union Territory.
