Plea in Indore court seeks FIR against IAS Santosh Verma over controversial remarks

A petition has been filed at a court in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore against IAS officer Santosh Kumar Verma, days after his remarks related to reservation and the Brahmin community created a stir in the State and outside. 

Shailendra Dwivedi, an Indore-based lawyer, filed a plea before the Judicial Magistrate First Class seeking directions for the police to register an FIR against Mr. Verma while alleging that his statement was “vulgar, obscene and cheap”.

At a regional event of the M.P. Anusuchit Jati-Janjati Adhikari Evam Karmachari Sangh (AJJAKS) on November 23 in Bhopal, Mr. Verma had said, “Reservation should continue until a Brahmin gives away his daughter to my son, or (she) has a relationship with him, if it’s only about the economic aspect.” 

He had been appointed the new State president of the body at the event.

Mr. Verma later apologised for his remarks and clarified that by “giving away” he meant kanyadaan (Hindu wedding ritual of giving away a daughter in marriage) and was referring to the ‘roti-beti’ culture between different castes, which promotes inter-caste marriages. 

However, his remarks led to various protests from Brahmin outfits and leaders who alleged that they were derogatory towards women as they demanded an FIR and disciplinary action against the bureaucrat.  

The State Government also issued a show-cause notice to Mr. Verma, saying that his statement prima facie amounted to “harming social harmony and creating animosity in the society” and fell under the category of “indiscipline and serious misconduct”.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Dwivedi said, “I come from the Brahmin community and am deeply hurt by Santosh Verma’s offensive statements about my community. I request the court to order the police to register a case against him under the relevant legal provisions and submit an investigation report.”

The court has set December 4 for hearing the plea, he said.