Overview

• Khitendra Pandey, a 36-year-old Class IV employee at the Jagdalpur circuit house, alleges the minister abused him, grabbed his collar and slapped him over a dispute about whether a room was unlocked.
• Kedar Kashyap has issued a categorical denial, calling the allegation baseless propaganda and saying no such incident occurred.
• Police confirm a complaint was lodged at Kotwali police station and that an inquiry is underway, with the staffer seeking registration of an FIR.
• Congress leaders, including Bhupesh Baghel and state party chief Deepak Baij, demand the minister’s resignation and legal action, and the party announced statewide protests with effigy burning on Sunday.
• The BJP has not issued a public statement, and Kashyap is the sole Bastar-region minister holding portfolios including Forest and Climate Change, Transport, Cooperation and Parliamentary Affairs.