The Madhya Pradesh government has issued a show-cause notice to senior IAS officer Santosh Kumar Verma after his allegedly casteist remarks created a stir in the State and led to protests from the Brahmin community in various parts.
As per the notice issued by the General Administration Department on Wednesday, the government said the remarks made by Mr. Verma, who was recently appointed State president of the M.P. Anusuchit Jati and Janjati Adhikari Evam Karmachari Sangh (AJJAKS), prima facie amounted to “harming social harmony and creating animosity in the society” and fell under the category of “indiscipline and serious misconduct”.
“Thus, by violating Rule 3(1), 3(2)(b) (i)(ii) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, you have rendered yourself liable for disciplinary proceedings under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969,” the notice read, asking him to respond within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
Addressing a regional summit of the AJJAKS on November 23, Mr. Verma had said, “One person in one family should get reservation until a Brahmin gives away his daughter to my son, or (she) has a relationship with him, if it’s only about the economic condition.”
Mr. Verma is currently posted as a Deputy Secretary in the Agriculture Department.
His remarks led to protests from the Brahmin community in various parts of the State, including Bhopal, Gwalior, Singrauli, Narmadapuram and Raisen, where Brahmin outfits gave complaints at police stations demanding an FIR against him. The protesters have also termed his statement “anti-women”.
Leaders from both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress have also sought action against him.
A delegation of the Secretariat Officers’ Association, led by its president Sudhir Nayak, submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, urging the government to take action against Mr. Verma’s statement.
Issues clarification
Mr. Verma, however, issued a clarification on Tuesday, saying he did not intend to hurt women’s sentiment or create a political controversy.
“At a meeting of the State unit of AJJAKS, one agenda item for discussion was that whether reservation should be based on economic grounds or social grounds. On this subject, some people were of the opinion that nobody else in the family of an IAS officer should be given reservation. So, I had said that if I am financially independent and not socially backward anymore, then my children should receive ‘roti-beti’ treatment from society. Some people have only taken out one line from my address and spread it,” he said, adding that by “giving away” he meant kanyadaan (a Hindu ritual of giving away a daughter in marriage).
“I don’t have ill will against any community. I did not want to hurt women’s sentiments. I express regret if I have hurt anyone,” Mr. Verma said, speaking to news agency ANI.
This is not the first time Mr. Verma has landed in a controversy. In 2021, he was accused of forging judicial orders using fake signatures of a judge to get himself relief in a criminal intimidation case filed against him by a woman. He was also later arrested in Indore on the judge’s complaint.
As per reports, Mr. Verma has also faced accusations of using forged documents to get promoted from the State administrative cadre to IAS cadre. He has faced cases of intimidation and exploitation and fake promise of marriage by women in the past.
Published – November 27, 2025 08:21 pm IST
