Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended IAS officer Santosh Verma after a video of his controversial remarks about Brahmin girls sparked statewide outrage. The action came late Wednesday night, accompanied by a show-cause notice issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), which termed his comments a violation of the Civil Services Conduct Rules.
Verma, originally a 2014-batch MPPSC officer who was inducted into the IAS in 2021, was serving as Deputy Secretary in the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. He also heads the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Officers and Employees Association (AJAKS). The GAD has sought a reply from him within seven days.
The controversy erupted after Verma’s speech at a provincial convention held on 23 November at Ambedkar Maidan, Tulsi Nagar, Bhopal. In the viral video, he can be heard saying, “Reservation should continue until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son.” The remark triggered strong reactions, especially from Brahmin organisations, who termed it derogatory, casteist, and unbecoming of a senior administrative officer.
Protests intensified across the state, with demonstrations seen in Tikamgarh, where members of the Brahmin community and Parashuram Sena marched demanding Verma’s immediate arrest and the filing of an FIR. Advocate Saurabh Sharma, president of the Parashuram Sena Youth Organization, condemned the remarks, questioning how such statements could be made when the government promotes campaigns like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.”
This incident is the latest addition to Verma’s controversial track record. He has previously faced allegations ranging from forging a CBI judge’s signature—an act for which he was jailed in 2021, to threatening a woman and spreading obscene material. He has also been accused of securing a promotion using forged court orders.
While Verma has reportedly apologised, the state government has maintained that such behaviour is unacceptable in a civilized society, especially from an officer tasked with upholding public trust. Protests continue, and calls for stronger legal action remain loud across Madhya Pradesh.
