Devas SDM Anand Malviya Suspended Overnight Over Controversial Letter

Ujjain/Devas, January 5, 2026: Anand Malviya, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Devas district, has been suspended with immediate effect following a controversial letter he issued that criticized a Union Minister and allegedly used Congress party language on official letterhead. The decision comes in the wake of public outrage over deaths caused by contaminated water in Indore.

The suspension order was issued by Ujjain Divisional Commissioner Ashish Singh after Malviya’s letter, addressed to his subordinates, became public and sparked widespread controversy. In the letter, Malviya reportedly referred to Union Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya as “inhuman and autocratic” and cited the deaths of 14 people due to contaminated water in Indore.

The letter was issued in the context of protests announced by the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee against the government’s handling of the Indore water tragedy. Malviya’s office instructed staff to deploy personnel for managing law and order during the protests. However, the letter contained several contentious elements, including:

• Explicit mention of 14 deaths and 2,800 people under treatment due to contaminated water in Indore.
• Use of the word “ghanta” highlighted in the document.
• Criticism of Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya as “inhuman and autocratic” without formal honorifics, while Congress leader Jitu Patwari was addressed respectfully with “Shri” and “Ji.”
• Portions of the letter closely mirrored the text of a Congress memorandum, which was seen as inappropriate for an official government communication.

According to officials, this constituted serious administrative negligence, irregularity, and dereliction of duty. During the suspension period, Malviya’s duties will be overseen by the Divisional Commissioner’s office.

A senior official explained that the SDM’s letter not only reflected bias but also replicated opposition party language verbatim, raising concerns about misuse of official channels and undermining government neutrality.

This action underscores the administration’s emphasis on strict adherence to official protocols and impartiality, especially in sensitive matters involving public health and political accountability.