An FIR has been registered against Chhattisgarh BJP MLA Ramkumar Toppo and several aides after a revenue official accused them of assault during a dispute over signing parole-related documents in Surguja district.An FIR has been registered against Chhattisgarh BJP MLA Ramkumar Toppo and more than a dozen of his aides for allegedly assaulting a revenue official. Another FIR was filed against the revenue official based on a complaint by a woman, who accused the official of inappropriate conduct.The incident took place on Wednesday in Surguja district, when the woman, who said she was a relative of MLA Toppo, approached Naib Tehsilar Tushar Manik’s office, seeking his signature on a document required by jail authorities to release a person on parole.In her complaint, the woman claimed that the naib tehsildar was angered by her request. “He abused me and made obscene gestures. He then pushed me out. He said he would always behave like this with the Urao people (a local tribal community)… He told his staff that I should not be allowed to come into his office. Several people were gathered there to see the incident.” She alleged that she was treated this way despite the official knowing she was the MLA’s relative.Naib Tehsilar Tushar Manik denied the allegations. He told The Indian Express, “First, an elderly woman came to my office asking me to sign the incomplete document, which she was required to submit to the jail authorities to get some person out on parole. But I refused as the required documents were not in place, and two witnesses were needed. Later, another woman came and insisted that I sign the document immediately. I told her that my reader was absent and would return the next day, after which the signing process could be completed properly. When I denied her demand, she made false allegations against me.”Later, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Fagesh Sinha received a phone call from MLA Toppo’s personal assistant, asking Sinha and Manik to come to Rajapur in Mainpat. In his police complaint, Manik said, “When we reached there around 5 pm on Wednesday, MLA Toppo was there with over a dozen men. The MLA intimidated me to sign the paper, and when I refused, they abused and assaulted me. I fell on the ground, and the SDM tried to defend me and get me out of there.”Also Read | Out of jail, ex-Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki booked for ‘clash’ at goat marketBased on Manik’s complaint, an FIR was registered against Toppo and others under sections 221 (obstructing public servant), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from performing duty), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), and 191(2) (rioting) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Manik was also booked based on the woman’s complaint. He was booked under BNS sections 296 (obscenity), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 79 (insulting modesty of a woman).Story continues below this adAlso Read | Congress leaders named for first time in Chhattisgarh FIRs are both close to its ex-CM Bhupesh BaghelMLA Toppo, a former CRPF jawan, became a first-time MLA from the Sitapur constituency after defeating the Congress’s Amarjeet Bhagat in 2023 when the latter was a minister.Multiple calls and text messages to Toppo seeking his comment on the matter have gone unanswered.Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram