Ranchi: The state government's showcause notice to Rajbala Verma, seeking an explanation from her for failing to unravel the fodder scam being played out in district treasuries while she was West Singhbhum deputy commissioner in 1990-91, has prompted Opposition leaders to seek her resignation amid a whisper campaign against her within the bureaucracy.

JMM, Congress and JVM leaders have decided to demand her removal during the budget session of the Assembly beginning January 17. They point to finance secretary Sukhdev Singh's offer to be relieved of his responsibilities after a CBI court ordered criminal proceedings to be initiated against him in another fodder scam case.

"The dignity of the chief secretary's chair should be maintained. She should be setting a good example for coming generations of bureaucrats," said Lohardaga MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat, also a former officer of the state administrative services.

JVM legislature party leader Pradip Yadav, who promised to raise the issue in every possible forum, maintained that his first question during the coming budget session would be on Verma.

"The hollowness of chief minister's tall claims on zero tolerance of corruption stands exposed. Rajbala Verma should learn from her colleague Sukhdev Singh. We are going to corner the government on this issue," said JMM MLA Kunal Sarangi.

A senior IAS officer pointed out that Sukhdev Singh offered to step away from his current post soon after the CBI sought his prosecution even though he was CBI witness. "He was the CBI's star witness. In fact, he reported irregularities at Deoghar treasury and also formed an inquiry committee," he said, but argued that Verma's alleged negligence was more apparent because her signatures were missing on treasury audit reports.

But those close to the chief secretary alleged the charges against her were politically motivated at a time she could have been up for an extension since she is to retire next month.

"The fodder scam began as early as 1977 when veteran Kailashpati Mishra (BJP) was Bihar's finance minister. Most of the DCs overlooked the irregularities at respective treasuries. Why only a select few are being singled out? Lalu Yadav has also been saying that inquiries were ordered immediately after the scam was brought to his notice. But he has been convicted," said a former bureaucrat.

Asked why Verma did not respond to earlier showcause notices served by former chief secretaries, another bureaucrat wondered why they did not pursue the matter. "Those chief secretaries were aware that the CBI recommendations were politically motivated and they merely followed procedure and served the notices. There is no evidence proving that she benefited from the scam in cash or kind," he explained.

Parliamentary affairs minister Saryu Roy at whose behest Verma was served the showcause notice on Thursday, said that it was up to the state government (read the chief minister) and the chief secretary to decide on the next course of action.

"The rule of law should prevail. Fixing certain persons and sparing others is not fair. What will I gain if Lalu Prasad spends his entire life in jail? We exposed the fodder scam. Now, it is our responsibility to bring it to a decisive end," he opined.