Minister Uday Pratap Singh bars former OSD Virendra Tiwari from his official residence

Madhya Pradesh School Education and Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh has barred his former OSD (officer on special duty), Virendra Tiwari, from coming to the minister's bungalow. Tiwari has not visited the bungalow since. It is said that Tiwari had carried out transactions in the minister's name, and that the minister took this action after it came to light.

Allegations have also surfaced that Tiwari has three wives. A complaint about this had reached the minister. It is being discussed that a few days ago a woman who described herself as Tiwari's wife went to the minister's official residence in Bhopal and told Uday Pratap Singh of her troubles. She said Tiwari has relationships with two other women, one living in Bhopal and the other in Gwalior, and that both have children. The woman alleges that Tiwari used his clout and influence to keep her silent so far and kept harassing her mentally. Uday Pratap Singh is said to have had the woman's allegations looked into at his own level.

Uday Pratap Singh is the second minister in the Mohan Yadav government whose OSD has faced such action. Earlier, Deepam Raichura, OSD to Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and an excise officer, was removed over allegations of a transaction of Rs 1 crore. Raichura's role had come to light in connection with the contracts for two liquor shops in Bhopal's TT Nagar area in 2024-25. He was removed from the post and a departmental inquiry was also started.

Virendra Tiwari originally held the post of Chief Municipal Officer in the Urban Development and Housing Department. Until 2008 he worked in the same department as a daily-wage employee, after which he was made permanent. He has been on ministers' staff before. In 2024, Tiwari is said to have first been sent on deputation to the State Industrial Development Board so that he could be placed on Uday Pratap Singh's staff. He took charge as a section officer at the board on March 15, 2024, and the same day was made the minister's OSD and attached to the minister's staff. Two months ago, on his promotion, his services were returned to his parent department, but he continued to handle the minister's work as before.

The minister, Uday Pratap Singh, could not be reached for comment on the matter. An attempt was made to contact Virendra Tiwari, but his mobile phone was found switched off. Officials on the minister's staff have confirmed that Tiwari has not come to the minister's bungalow since Diwali. He is said to be on leave.

Controversies over ministers' staff have surfaced before. A video showing money changing hands for transfers, involving Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana's OSD Ashok Kumar Batham, personal assistant Dinesh Bhakoria and stenographer-typist Ankit Awadhiya, had gone viral. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the government removed and suspended all three employees.