‘Reservation until Brahmin girls…’: IAS officer under fire over his remarks on quota system

Senior IAS officer Santosh Verma, recently elected as the provincial president of AJAKS the association representing government employees from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has once again found himself at the centre of a public storm. 

A video from an organisational convention held on Sunday at Ambedkar Maidan in Bhopal surfaced online, drawing widespread criticism.

Statement Draws Criticism from Brahmin Organisations

In the viral video, Verma is heard making a remark saying, "Until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or has a relationship with him, reservations should continue,"

That remark quickly ignited outrage across social media. Brahmin organisations strongly condemned the statement, describing it as ‘indecent, casteist, and disrespectful’.

Pushpendra Mishra, state president of the All India Brahmin Samaj, demanded immediate action.

He said: “An FIR should be lodged at once. These remarks are objectionable and an insult to the Brahmin community. If no criminal case is filed, we will launch a statewide protest.”

Mishra added that Verma’s words violate All India Services Conduct Rules, especially at a time when the government is promoting programmes like Ladli Laxmi, Ladli Behna, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, which aim to protect and uplift women and girls.

Verma’s Past Controversies Resurface

This incident has also brought renewed attention to Verma’s controversial track record. The IAS officer, previously part of the Madhya Pradesh State Administrative Service, has faced serious allegations in the past including forging court orders and faking a CBI judge’s signature to claim legal relief.

He was once arrested in Indore after a judge accused him of forging two court orders in a case involving alleged criminal intimidation of a woman.

A Sensitive Issue Amid Heightened Scrutiny

As reactions intensify, officials and civil society groups are calling for responsible conduct from public servants. The incident has reopened discussions on administrative accountability and the need for dignified discourse in public forums. The state now awaits the government’s next steps.