Rajasthan govt chargesheet to RAS officer Pankaj Ojha over caste-based Facebook posts
Synopsis
A senior Rajasthan IAS-equivalent officer has been chargesheeted for allegedly posting caste-based and communal content on Facebook — including a post questioning the Centre's caste census policy. The twist: the officer says the screenshots are fake, a counter-complaint is filed, and a police probe is already underway, turning a disciplinary matter into a contested battle over digital evidence.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan Department of Personnel has issued a chargesheet to RAS officer Pankaj Ojha , alleging provocative caste-based and communal Facebook posts on eight dates in October 2025 .
Ojha, currently Additional Director in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment , has been given 15 days to reply; failure to do so could trigger ex parte disciplinary action.
The alleged violations cite Rules 3, 4 and 11 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1971 .
One cited post allegedly questioned the Centre's caste-based census policy, which the department treated as criticism of government policy.
Ojha denies authorship, claims fabricated screenshots were circulated, and says he filed a counter-complaint with Ashok Nagar police station — where a probe is reportedly ongoing.
Ojha states he submitted a detailed reply on 27 January 2026 via the Rajkaj portal , contradicting the department's claim of no response.
The Rajasthan government has issued a formal chargesheet to senior Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer Pankaj Ojha, alleging that he published provocative caste-based, communal, and politically sensitive content on Facebook across multiple dates in October 2025. Ojha currently serves as Additional Director in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, and has flatly denied the allegations, claiming fabricated screenshots were circulated using his name.
Nature of the Allegations
According to the chargesheet, Ojha allegedly shared objectionable and inflammatory content through his Facebook account, "RAS Pankaj Ojha," on October 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 27, 2025 — a period during which he was serving as Director of the Gopalan Department. The Department of Personnel stated it received a complaint alleging caste-based and communal posts, prompting an initial three-day explanation notice on 19 January 2026. The chargesheet notes that no response was received to that notice.
Among the posts cited, one allegedly published on 25 October 2025 reportedly questioned the Centre's caste-based census policy, stating: 'Why only a caste-based census? Why not also make public the data on caste-based taxpayers and caste-based crimes? That way, we would know who contributes what.' The department interpreted the post as criticism of a government policy and flagged it as an alleged violation of service conduct norms.
The chargesheet further alleged that some posts contained insulting and indecent language directed at the Prime Minister and current and former chief ministers of various states, and that the content could adversely affect social and religious harmony.
Rules Cited and Disciplinary Warning
The chargesheet alleges that Ojha's conduct violated Rules 3, 4 and 11 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1971, which require government employees to maintain integrity, devotion to duty, and conduct befitting their official positions. The department has characterised the alleged violations as serious misconduct and directed Ojha to submit a reply within 15 days, warning that disciplinary action may be initiated ex parte if he fails to respond. Ojha has also been directed not to seek political or administrative intervention in the matter.
Officer's Denial and Counter-Complaint
Ojha has rejected the allegations in full. 'I did not post anything objectionable. Fake screenshots were circulated on social media using my name; I am, in fact, the victim,' he said. He stated that on 29 December 2025, he wrote to the Personnel Secretary and the Chief Secretary seeking action over the alleged fabrication, and also met the Jaipur Commissioner to urge authorities to act.
According to Ojha, a complaint was lodged with Ashok Nagar police station, where the matter is reportedly under investigation. He claimed that an anonymous complaint was subsequently submitted to the Department of Personnel, triggering the January notice. Ojha maintained that he submitted a detailed reply on 27 January 2026 through the state government's Rajkaj portal, denying authorship of the posts and citing a fabricated post created in his name — retaining the submission receipt as proof.
Where the Case Stands
The chargesheet marks the latest and most formal stage in the disciplinary proceedings against Ojha. The claims against him remain contested: the department maintains it received no reply to its January notice, while Ojha insists a documented response exists on the Rajkaj portal. With a police investigation reportedly underway at Ashok Nagar and a 15-day window to reply now open, the case is set to move into a critical phase that will test both the authenticity of the disputed posts and the robustness of Rajasthan's civil service conduct framework.
Point of View
And a parallel claim that the evidence itself is fabricated. The department's assertion that it received no reply to its January notice clashes directly with Ojha's documented Rajkaj portal submission — a discrepancy that cuts to procedural credibility on both sides. More broadly, the inclusion of a post questioning caste-census policy as a conduct violation raises legitimate questions about where civil service speech restrictions end and political censorship begins. India's administrative machinery has long struggled to draw that line, and this case may become a reference point for how social media activity by serving officers is adjudicated.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the chargesheet issued to RAS officer Pankaj Ojha about?
The chargesheet, issued by the Rajasthan Department of Personnel, alleges that RAS officer Pankaj Ojha posted caste-based, communal, and politically sensitive content on his Facebook account on eight dates in October 2025. The department has asked him to respond within 15 days or face ex parte disciplinary action.
What rules has Ojha allegedly violated?
The chargesheet alleges violations of Rules 3, 4 and 11 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1971, which require government employees to maintain integrity, devotion to duty, and conduct appropriate to their official positions. The department has classified the alleged violations as serious misconduct.
How has Pankaj Ojha responded to the chargesheet?
Ojha has denied all allegations, stating that fabricated screenshots were circulated on social media in his name. He says he submitted a detailed reply on 27 January 2026 through the state's Rajkaj portal, filed a complaint with Ashok Nagar police station, and also wrote to the Personnel Secretary and Chief Secretary about the alleged fabrication.
What was the post about the caste census that drew attention?
One post allegedly published on 25 October 2025 questioned the Centre's caste-based census policy, reportedly asking why data on caste-based taxpayers and caste-based crimes was not also made public. The Rajasthan Department of Personnel interpreted this as criticism of a government policy and cited it as a conduct violation.
What happens next in the case?
Ojha has 15 days from receipt of the chargesheet to submit his reply; failing this, the department may proceed ex parte. A separate police investigation into the alleged fabrication of screenshots is reportedly ongoing at Ashok Nagar police station in Jaipur.
