MP: Action taken against IAS officer Santosh Verma… Removed from post on CM’s instructions, dismissal in the works

Bhopal. The Madhya Pradesh government has taken double action against Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santosh Verma, who came into the spotlight for his “indecent” comments. While the state government has removed Verma from the post of Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, it has also sent a proposal to the central government recommending his dismissal from the IAS service. He is accused of fraudulently obtaining promotion to the IAS.

According to an official statement, the General Administration Department (GDA) of Madhya Pradesh has removed Santosh Verma from the post of Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, and attached him to the GDA without any department or responsibility.

What’s the controversy?

Santosh Verma, in a controversial statement at an event in Bhopal on November 23rd, said, “My son should receive reservation until a Brahmin donates his daughter to him.” A video of this statement quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage within the Brahmin community. Following Verma’s remarks, demands for action against him were raised not only in the state but across the country.

Furthermore, 65 Brahmin organizations, outraged by Verma’s remarks, united and announced a protest outside the ministry on Friday and a siege of the Chief Minister’s residence on December 14th. They also stated that if no action is taken, they will prepare for a statewide shutdown.

There were also comments about the High Court.

Meanwhile, another comment by Santosh Verma added fuel to the fire when, while addressing an event, he said, “It is the High Court itself that is preventing children from the Scheduled Castes from becoming civil judges… It is the High Court from which we seek a guarantee of constitutional compliance.”

The controversy escalated as a video of his comment surfaced, putting pressure on the government. Following this, a statement stated that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had taken cognizance of the Santosh Verma case and directed the GAD to take strict action. The statement stated that Santosh Verma had prepared a fake and forged promotion order from the State Administrative Service to the Indian Administrative Service, and criminal cases are pending against him in various courts.

The statement stated, “The IAS promotion obtained on the basis of forged documents and fraud is wrong. Therefore, a proposal for his dismissal from the IAS is being sent to the Central Government.” Shortly thereafter, the government sent this proposal to the Central Government on Thursday. The government stated that a departmental inquiry against Verma for allegedly obtaining an integrity certificate based on forged and fabricated documents is in its final stages, and that his response to the show-cause notice in the current case is unsatisfactory.

The government stated that he has been continuously issuing indecent statements, hence the decision to issue a charge sheet against him. An official stated that the state government can suspend IAS officers, but cannot dismiss them, as this power rests with the central government, which becomes effective after the President signs the order.

Officials stated, “The MP government has removed MP cadre IAS officer Santosh Verma from the post of Deputy Secretary of the Agriculture Department after it was found that he had become an IAS officer through fraud.” “The departmental inquiry against Santosh Verma for allegedly obtaining an integrity certificate based on forged and fabricated documents is in its final stages.”

“Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav also took cognizance of the controversial statement made by Madhya Pradesh IAS officer Santosh Verma about the daughters of the Brahmin community. He directed the GAD to take strict action.”