BAREILLY, Jan. 28 -- Even as a probe was initiated into the alleged violations of the UP Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999, by him, suspended PCS officer Alankar Agnihotri staged a protest at the Collectorate on Tuesday, levelling allegations of caste-based abuse against the district administration and claimed a well-planned conspiracy against him. "I have tendered my resignation to the governor and the Election Commission. I am not bound to comply with any government orders, and there is no question of me resuming duties at the Shamli Collectorate," said Agnihotri. The UP government suspended Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline following his resignation from service in protest against a "complete erosion of democratic and republican values", government policies, especially the new UGC rules and the alleged assault on disciples of Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand during the Prayagraj Magh Mela. Following the suspension, Agnihotri was attached to the Shamli Collectorate, while the investigation into the matter had been entrusted to the divisional commissioner, officials said. Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, divisional commissioner (Bareilly), said: "Following government orders, a probe has been initiated into the reported violations of the UP Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999 by the suspended city magistrate." In the morning, Agnihotri was allegedly prevented from holding a meeting with supporters at his government residence and was placed under house arrest. He reached the Collectorate to meet the DM around 11:30am. However, finding the main gate closed, Agnihotri sat on the ground near the gate along with his supporters and began a sit-in protest. He remained seated for nearly an hour as supporters raised slogans against the district administration and the state government. Around 12:30pm, officials escorted Agnihotri into the Collectorate auditorium on the pretext of holding talks with the DM. However, police personnel restricted media entry into the auditorium, drawing sharp objections from Agnihotri. Agnihotri came out of the auditorium and began protesting outside the DM's chamber. In a five-page resignation letter addressed to the governor and the Election Commission of India (ECI), the 2019-batch UP civil services officer alleged erosion of democratic and republican values under the present system. Agnihotri stated that his decision was prompted by two key issues - the implementation of the new UGC regulations and the incident during the Mauni Amavasya bath at the Prayagraj Magh Mela. He alleged that the local administration personnel assaulted Jyotish Peeth Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, his disciples, batuks, and Brahmins. He alleged that elderly acharyas were beaten and that a young Brahmin student was thrown to the ground, dragged by his 'shikha' (tuft of hair) and assaulted, leading to the violation of his dignity. Calling the Prayagraj episode serious and alarming, Agnihotri wrote that such incidents under the present government shake the conscience of any ordinary Brahmin. He alleged that the local administration and the current state government were functioning with an "anti-Brahmin mindset and undermining the dignity and identity of seers." Agnihotri also strongly criticised the new UGC regulations, alleging that students from the general category were being treated as "self-declared offenders". He claimed the new rules could jeopardise students' careers and personal lives, lead to exploitation and create inequality. Notified on January 13, UGC's Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, have sparked criticism from general category students who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them. Introduced to stop caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, the regulations mandate institutions to set up special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to handle complaints, especially from SC, ST and OBC students....