Collector in Tamil Nadu asks assistant to carry his shoes, sparks outrage

Chennai: Kallakurichi collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath has sparked outrage and controversy after he allegedly asked his assistant to carry his shoes. The bureaucrat has denied the allegation outright.

Videos of the incident have gone viral in which the collector appears to be asking the subordinate to carry his shoes before entering a temple. He visited the Koovagam Koothandavar Temple ahead of the famous 'Koovagam' festival, celebrated by transgenders to take stock of the arrangements.

Speaking to PTI, he denied wrongdoing and said, "I never instructed the duffedar to carry my shoes. In fact, the video is edited and misinterpreted. Reporters who were present in the field know that it (the allegation) is not true. Someone who was not in the field (present there) has edited and misinterpreted the incident."

Many have taken to social media to criticise the official and slam the behaviour. He is also receiving backlash for his elitist attitude.

The collector claimed that his assistant is new to the job and may not have known what to do with the shoes. He insisted that he did not ask the assistant to carry the shoes. He added that police personnel and panchayat staff who accompanied him during the visit can vouch for him.