IRS Officer Hospitalized After Alleged Assault by Colleague in Lucknow, Inquiry Initiated

In a shocking incident that has raised serious concerns about workplace conduct and discipline within central government offices, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer posted in Lucknow was allegedly assaulted by a fellow officer on Thursday.

The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a professional disagreement, has prompted an official inquiry and sparked political commentary, while the injured officer continues to receive medical treatment.

The officer in question, Gaurav Garg, is a 2016-batch IRS officer presently serving at the Income Tax Department’s regional office in Lucknow.

According to initial reports, Garg sustained injuries to his face and head during the altercation and was subsequently admitted to a local hospital for treatment.

Doctors attending to him have described his condition as stable and under observation. However, the full extent of his injuries is yet to be publicly disclosed.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, no First Information Report (FIR) had been filed by the time this report was compiled. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the case is under active review and that legal action will follow as per the findings of the investigation.

Lucknow Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ashish Srivastava confirmed that Gaurav Garg himself informed the police about the assault on Thursday.

“Upon receiving the complaint, a police team was dispatched immediately to the scene to assess the situation,” Srivastava said.

He added that the police are in the process of examining the details and have initiated legal proceedings to ascertain the facts and determine accountability.

According to sources within the department and law enforcement, the altercation appears to have erupted due to an argument between Garg and one of his colleagues concerning a pending inquiry or departmental matter.

The disagreement, which began as a verbal exchange, is believed to have escalated rapidly into a physical confrontation. During the scuffle, Garg was allegedly attacked, leading to visible injuries that required hospitalization.

Eyewitnesses and office staff present at the scene reportedly intervened to defuse the situation and prevent further harm. Following the attack, an ambulance was summoned to the office premises, and Garg was transported to a nearby hospital for immediate medical care.

Further details about the colleague involved in the altercation have not yet been released by the authorities.

Notably, Gaurav Garg is married to an officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS), which has drawn additional public interest and attention to the incident, given the prominence of both services in India’s administrative structure.

The incident has also taken a political turn, with leaders from opposition parties criticizing the broader atmosphere under the current state and central administration.

Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav posted a critical remark on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the deterioration of professional ethics under the present regime.

“During the BJP government, there were earlier cases of police clashing with police — now it’s officers fighting among themselves,” Yadav wrote, pointing to what he views as a breakdown of administrative discipline and decorum.

As of now, the name of the officer accused of assaulting Garg has not been officially disclosed, and the Income Tax Department has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.

The internal inquiry into the incident is expected to shed more light on the exact sequence of events and determine any disciplinary or criminal actions to be taken against those responsible.

Meanwhile, the episode has sparked concerns within bureaucratic circles, with many calling for stricter protocols to handle interpersonal disputes within government offices.

Senior officials from the Income Tax Department and the Civil Services community are closely monitoring developments as they await the findings of both the police investigation and the internal departmental probe.

More details are expected to emerge in the coming days as the inquiry progresses and official statements are issued by the authorities involved.