MP govt removes IAS officer amid outrage over his remarks about Brahmin women

The Madhya Pradesh government late on Thursday removed Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santosh Verma as deputy secretary (agriculture) and recommended his dismissal to the central government, citing forged documents he allegedly used for his elevation from the state administrative service.

The action came amid outrage over Verma’s allegedly derogatory remarks against Brahmin women. Chief minister Mohan Yadav ordered his removal after Verma’s videos went viral.

In one of the videos, Verma is purportedly heard saying that caste-based reservations should continue until a Brahmin “donates his daughter to his son or a relationship is established between them.”

The comment provoked outrage with the Brahmin community announcing a protest at Yadav’s residence on Sunday against Verma for allegedly hurting their sentiments, insulting women, and making provocative statements.

The state government had suspended Verma when he was arrested in 2021 after a woman accused him of promising marriage and assaulting her. Verma was released on bail, and a departmental inquiry was going on against him.

The chief minister’s office (CMO) said a proposal for his dismissal from the IAS has been sent to the central government, as he obtained his promotion from the state administrative service by using allegedly forged and fabricated orders exonerating him from criminal cases.

Verma, who did not respond to phone calls for a response to the action against him, was also purportedly heard accusing the high court of being unjust to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates by preventing them from becoming civil judges despite the reservation.

Verma was attached to the General Administrative Department pool without work days after he made the controversial comments at a conference of the SC and ST Officers and Employees Association in Bhopal on November 23. Verma was elected as the president of the association.