INDORE: A taste of the exotic has turned into an unexpected official headache for a Madhya Pradesh civic officer. A video purportedly showing Ujjain Municipal Corporation building officer Rajkumar Rathore and his wife sampling crocodile meat during a holiday in Thailand has gone viral.
However, it is the paperwork behind the trip, rather than the unusual dish, that has put the officer under scrutiny.
Rathore is learnt to have travelled abroad without obtaining the mandatory permission.
The video, reportedly shared on Rathore’s wife’s social media account, shows the couple standing near what appears to be a restaurant or food stall, where they are served what the caption describes as crocodile meat. The clip carries the caption, “Trying crocodile for the first time in Thailand,” and also shows dead crocodiles.
Rathore, who is posted as the building officer for Zones 1, 2 and 3 of the Ujjain Municipal Corporation, had taken leave from October 19 to 23, Municipal Commissioner Abhilash Mishra said. However, according to Mishra, Rathore’s leave application did not mention that he intended to travel abroad.
Government service rules require officials and employees to obtain permission from the competent authority before undertaking a foreign trip. Mishra said the matter would be examined and departmental action could be considered if a violation of the rules is established.
Attempts to contact Rathore for his response were unsuccessful.