 That same month she came under scrutiny for trying to "force out" Sir Philip Rutnam, the most senior civil servant in her department.Rutnam resigned on 29 February, saying he would sue the government for constructive dismissal and that he did not believe Patel's assertion that she had been uninvolved in an alleged campaign briefing against him.Rutnam alleged that Patel had orchestrated a "vicious" campaign against him.