What would you say to an official who DRAINED A RESERVOIR to find the CELLPHONE that he dropped?

[AviatorTom]

An official in India dropped his cellphone in the water while taking a selfie, then had the reservoir drained to find his phone. After 3 days of draining, the phone was found, but too waterlogged to work.

What do you think? Appropriate Use of Power? Or Abuse of Power?

An Indian official ordered an entire reservoir drained to find his phone after he dropped it taking a selfie

[RuthWBauer]

Appropriate Use of Powers: In some cases, government officials may use their powers to resolve emergencies or recover important items. It may be considered a case of appropriate use of power if the officer's actions are based on protecting or retrieving lost personal items and comply with reasonable and lawful process.

Abuse of Authority: However, if an official abuses his or her authority or uses public resources for personal gain, then such behavior can be considered abuse of authority. Draining an entire reservoir is a massive and expensive operation that could be seen as an example of abuse of power without adequate legal justification and process.

[purplepoppy]

Sounds more like he wanted to demonstrate his authority than actually get his phone back.

I'd question him if he was concerned someone would find his phone and look at what photos he had on it.

[OlderAndWiser]

Obvious abuse of power, but I don't know if the legal system in India is strong to prosecute public corruption.

[Adam1978]

He should be fired for that. He clearly isn't fit for his job if he makes calls like that.

[AviatorTom]

The news item says he was suspended...

[Amy10223]

I would think that that was a stupid thing to do, because of the nature of the country and the lack of water in some parts , it was a waste of a resource. I would have him relieved of his duties just for that ridiculous act.

[BrookeAZ90]

He has to know his phone wouldn't work but there must be something he can't risk being found on it to go to such great lengths.

[OfMiceandMen]

Not only an abuse of power, but, a lesson in stupidity. What person takes three days to drain the reservoir and thinks it can possibly work again?

[MicroJ]

An absolute abuse of power and authority! He should be removed from his position and have to pay the tax payers back. Like seriously!

[DizzyDesii]

I love my phone and I’d do the same 🤣 I’d only feel bad if it was some towns water/power supply

[AngryCarl2]

I'd say it was an abuse of power but I don't understand how a food inspector had the authority to drain a reservoir. Unless he said there was something wrong with the water?

[msc545]

Complete abuse of power as well as gross stupidity - cellphones do not work after immersion in water.

[msc545]

He was a food inspector - that tells me a lot about what he was probably worried about if that phone was found. Not that anything could have been recovered from it anyway.

[Snakeyes7]

He could have had someone dive to get it.

[AviatorTom]

Divers did try to find it, without success, as the linked to news item reports

[Snakeyes7]

Oh still it is not worth draining the reservoir.

[Christoff92]

That's hilarious can say abuse of power. If I lost my phone in the lake. Away she goes 😄

[Fuentes]

He has something to hide in that phone lol

[Andres77]

Definite abuse

[LemiaOfThunder]

Thats he's an idiot