India, July 31 -- LUCKNOW/MEERUT The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday transferred IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi and attached him to the UP Revenue Board in Lucknow, nearly 36 hours after a video purportedly showing him doing sit-ups, holding his ears in front of protesting lawyers in Shahjahanpur, went viral on Tuesday. Rahi, the newly appointed sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Powayan tehsil in Shahjahanpur, has now been relieved of the post.

"The state government took serious note of the sit-ups performed by Rahi in front of lawyers. It's a violation of the All India Services Conduct Rules as well as 'unbecoming of an officer'- an inappropriate act that was not in accordance with the post," said a senior state government officer....