Cross FIRs Filed in Surguja Clash: Case Against BJP MLA Ramkumar Toppo, Naib Tehsildar Also Booked After Dispute

Raipur

The Surguja Police have registered cross FIRs against BJP MLA Ramkumar Toppo and Naib Tehsildar Tushar Manikpuri following a dispute in the Sitapur area of Surguja district.

Police registered a case under bailable sections against Naib Tehsildar Tushar Manikpuri after a complaint was filed by a woman, who is the sister of the local MLA. In her complaint lodged at Sitapur Police Station, she alleged that the revenue official used caste-based slurs, made obscene gestures, misbehaved with her, and physically pushed her out of his office. Based on the complaint, police invoked sections 296, 351(2), and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the officer.

In a separate development, police registered a case under non-bailable sections against Sitapur MLA Ramkumar Toppo, along with Yusuf, Nazim Raza, Pankaj Gupta, and 10 to 12 unidentified persons. The action was taken following a complaint lodged by Naib Tehsildar Tushar Manikpuri. The FIR against the MLA and his supporters includes sections 221, 121(1), 191(2), and 132 of the BNS.

The Naib Tehsildar filed his complaint in Ambikapur, around 50 kilometres away from the incident spot in Sitapur. The Ambikapur Police registered the matter as a Zero FIR. Senior district and divisional officials reportedly took the joint decision to register the complaint in Ambikapur. Sources said there was no emergency situation preventing the official from filing the complaint directly in Sitapur.

Notably, Ramkumar Toppo has become the first BJP legislator to face a non-bailable case during the tenure of the current state government.