Uttar Pradesh Government suspends Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri; orders inquiry

Uttar Pradesh suspends Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri for indiscipline and orders an inquiry following his resignation.

The Uttar Pradesh Government on Monday (January 26, 2026) suspended Bareilly city magistrate and Provincial State Service officer Alankar Agnihotri and ordered a Departmental inquiry against him, after the officer submitted resignation from service questioning and criticising the government policies.

As per the official order issued by the Uttar Pradesh on January 26, Mr. Agnihotri, a 2019-batch UPPSC officer, has been found prima facie guilty of indiscipline based on a report submitted by the district magistrate of Bareilly.

“Acting under Rule 4 and Rule 7 of the Uttar Pradesh Government servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999, the government put the 2019-batch officer under immediate suspension and appointed the commissioner, Bareilly division, as the inquiry officer to conduct a detailed probe into the charges,” reads the official letter. 

Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on January 26 wrote his resignation from the service citing deep disagreement with government policies, including the new University Grant Commission (UGC) regulations. He described the new UGC regulations as a ‘black law’, speaking with reporters on Monday (January 26, 2026), Mr. Agnihotri alleged the UGC provisions are discriminatory and could lead to social unrest in campuses. Mr. Agnihotri also alleged that an “anti-Brahmin campaign” was under way in Uttar Pradesh and claimed that members of the community were being selectively targeted.

Mr. Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer, sent his resignation by email to the Uttar Pradesh Governor and Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh. The PCS officer also pointed to a recent religious controversy in Prayagraj, questioning the role of administrative authorities.

A resident of Kanpur Nagar, Mr. Agnihotri had earlier served as sub-divisional magistrate in key districts including Unnao, Balrampur and Lucknow, and was known in administrative circles for his forthright views and strict work style.