Obscene dance row in Chhattisgarh: SDM removed, cops suspended, 14 organisers arrested

RAIPUR: A day after shocking videos of an obscene orchestra show in Chhattisgarh's Gariyaband district triggered statewide outrage, police have arrested 14 members of the organising committee and initiated multiple layers of action against officials who either facilitated or participated in the event. The outrage stems from videos showing Mainpur SDM Tulsi Das Markam not only present at the event, but purportedly filming the semi-nude dancers and throwing money on stage along with police personnel. The clips show dancers stripping on stage, performing explicit acts, and interacting with cops. Gariyaband collector Bhagwan Singh Uikey removed SDM Markam from his post and attached him to the district headquarters, confirming that a departmental inquiry has been launched, while three policemen were also suspended. Collector said that the officer’s presence at the event was evident and deeply concerning. “As the area’s executive magistrate, it was his duty to stop such an event. Instead, the programme went on uninterrupted in his presence,” he said.Uikey added that the SDO had approved the programme from Jan 5 to 10 without obtaining the mandatory reports from the tehsildar and the local police station — a serious breach of procedure.The show-cause notice issued to the SDO states that “obscene” dance performances were held and that his photographs at the venue as a “silent spectator” were widely shared on social media.Despite being an executive magistrate, he failed to take any legal action and continued watching the programme, the notice says.Calling the conduct “highly reprehensible, inappropriate and undisciplined,” the notice states that such behaviour violates the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules and is unbecoming of a government servant holding a position of responsibility and dignity.The arrests come under charges related to breach of peace and spreading public obscenity. All 14 accused will be produced before the Devbhog SDM court.Those arrested include 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).Gariyaband SP Vedvrat Sirmour said that he has suspended three police personnel caught on camera engaging with the dancers head constable Dilochan Rawte, constables Shubham Chauhan and Jai Kansari.The six-day opera, organised by a local youth committee at Urmala village, had received official permission from SDM Markam on Dec 29, 2025. For Jan 8-10, the organisers had hired dancers from Odisha, promising "entertainment".Instead, videos show dancers stripping, calling themselves "Odisha’s Sunny Leone," and encouraging the crowd. Policemen, local leaders and officials are seen throwing money and recording the acts. Entry tickets were priced at ₹200–400, while dancers were paid nearly ₹60,000 per day, police said.Devbhog police had initially arrested four organisers after a written complaint on Jan 10, but they were released on bond. After more videos emerged and public anger rose, police expanded the action to 14 arrests on Monday.Fresh Controversy in SurajpurWhile Gariyaband reels under the scandal, another old video from Surajpur’s Kumeli forest rest house has surfaced, showing nude dance performances inside a govt building. The rest house, meant for eco-tourism, has previously been accused of misuse for gambling and liquor gatherings.