A major scandal involving an obscene orchestra performance has rocked Chhattisgarh, leading to swift police action and the suspension of government officials. The incident, which occurred in the Gariyaband district, has triggered widespread public anger after videos of the event circulated on social media.
Widespread Arrests and Official Action
In response to the viral videos, police have arrested 14 members of the organising committee. The arrests were made under charges related to breach of peace and spreading public obscenity. All the accused are set to be produced before the Devbhog SDM court.
The list of those arrested includes: Devendra Rajput (31), Govind Devangan (21), Narendra Sahu (38), Hasan Khan (53), Hardayal Nagesh (50), Mukesh Agrawal (40), Lal Krishna Kashyap (27), Rajesh Kashyap (36), Sachin Kashyap (24), Leeladhar Sahu (50), Lalit Kaushik (38), Vikas Yadav (32), Jambudhar (40) and Umesh Yadav (25).
Senior Official Caught in the Act
The core of the outrage stems from the involvement of a senior government officer. Videos clearly show Mainpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Tulsi Das Markam not only present at the event but also allegedly filming the semi-nude dancers and throwing money on stage alongside police personnel.
Gariyaband Collector Bhagwan Singh Uikey confirmed the officer's presence was "evident and deeply concerning." He stated that as the area's executive magistrate, it was Markam's duty to stop such an event, but the programme continued uninterrupted in his presence. Markam has been removed from his post and attached to the district headquarters, with a departmental inquiry initiated against him.
A show-cause notice issued to the SDM highlights that he approved the programme from January 5 to 10 without obtaining mandatory reports from the tehsildar and local police—a serious procedural breach. The notice condemns his conduct as "highly reprehensible, inappropriate and undisciplined," violating the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules.
Police Personnel Suspended, Event Details Emerge
Gariyaband SP Vedvrat Sirmour suspended three police personnel seen in the videos engaging with the dancers. The suspended officers are Head Constable Dilochan Rawte, and Constables Shubham Chauhan and Jai Kansari.
The six-day opera was organised by a local youth committee in Urmala village. It had received official permission from SDM Markam on December 29, 2025. For the final three days (January 8-10), the organisers hired dancers from Odisha, promising "entertainment." However, the performances turned obscene, with videos showing dancers stripping and performing explicit acts. Police said entry tickets were priced between ₹200 and ₹400, and the dancers were paid nearly ₹60,000 per day.
While Devbhog police initially arrested four organisers on January 10, they were released on bond. The action was expanded to 14 arrests on Monday after more videos emerged and public anger intensified.
Another Controversy Surfaces in Surajpur
As Gariyaband deals with this scandal, an old video from Surajpur's Kumeli forest rest house has resurfaced, adding to the controversy. The video allegedly shows nude dance performances inside the government building, which is meant for eco-tourism. The rest house has previous allegations of being misused for gambling and liquor gatherings.
The incident has put a spotlight on the misuse of power and public morality in the state, with authorities now under pressure to ensure strict adherence to conduct rules and legal procedures.
