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

Days after his statements on reservation and the Brahmin community creating a stir in the state and abroad, a petition was filed against IAS officer Santosh Kumar Verma in a court in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore.

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, alleging that his statement was “vulgar, obscene and cheap”.

“Reservation should continue until a Brahmin gives his daughter to my son or has an affair with her (if it is only about the economic aspect),” Mr. Verma had said at the regional event organized by MP Anusuchit Jati-Janjati Adhikari Evam Karmachari Sangh (AJJAKS) in Bhopal on November 23.

He was appointed as the new State president of the institution at the event.

Mr Verma later apologized for his remarks and clarified what he meant by “giving to others”. kanyadaan (Hindu wedding ritual, marrying off a girl) and ‘roti-beti’ The culture between different castes encourages inter-caste marriages.

However, his remarks sparked several protests from Brahmin groups and leaders, who claimed that they were degrading women by demanding FIRs and disciplinary action against the bureaucrats.

The State Government also issued a show-cause notice to Mr. Verma, saying that his statement prima facie amounts to “prejudicing social harmony and creating hostility in the society” and falls 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 relevant legal provisions and submit an investigation report.”

He said that the court set the date of December 4 for the hearing of the defense.