Punjab BPEO Suspended After Video of Dancing With Wife in Office Goes Viral

Punjab: A block primary education officer (BPEO) from Punjab’s Moga district was suspended Tuesday after a video showing him dancing with his wife inside his office went viral on social media.

The Punjab government identified the officer as Devi Prasad, posted in the Baghapurana sub-division. In a statement, the education department said Prasad was suspended “for his misconduct in viral video,” with the action taken by education secretary Anindita Mitra after minister Harjot Singh Bains intervened.

“Strict action will be taken against any official found violating rules or failing in their duties,” Bains said.

Moga deputy commissioner Sagar Setia said a showcause notice was issued to Prasad as soon as the video surfaced. The one-minute clip, later shared widely online, shows the officer and his wife performing to the Bollywood song ‘Tum roothi raho, main manata rahun, ki inn adaayon pe aur pyaar aata hai.’

According to a senior Moga education department official, Prasad told authorities that the video was filmed in July while he was on election duty. He claimed he had spent a few hours in his office with his family, during which the clip was shot “for entertainment purposes only.” He added that his wife runs a YouTube channel and the video had been uploaded there by their children before it was picked up and circulated on social media.

“We are still waiting for his written reply to the showcause notice, which is expected on Wednesday,” the official said.

Speaking to a local news channel, the suspended officer said he belongs to Ferozepur and the day the video was shot, he was in his Moga office for election duty. “My wife had joined me in office as it was our marriage anniversary. The video was only for fun,” he said.