Morbi city police inspector A M Khambhalia has also been transferred by the State Government in what it claims is a move to ensure thorough and fair inquiry in the case.

Amrutia, who police suspect may have a political motive in killing the former Morbi mayor, reportedly called on State BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana and put in his papers. A party source claimed he told Rana to accept his papers if he was found guilty. A highly placed source in the Home Ministry said Amrutia had resigned to escape any allegation of his influencing investigation in the case.

Incidentally, replying to a question during his weekly Cabinet Press briefing, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel conceded that Amrutia had met him on Tuesday, but hastened to add, ``he only submitted a memorandum to me stating his name was being wrongly circulated as one of the conspirators.''

During his Cabinet briefing, the Chief Minister said Tapu's name was finalised as director of a statutory Board of the State. When asked if Tapu was already director of a State Board, Patel said, ``No, legally he was not a director, he was to be made one.'' Though the Chief Minister said he didn't remember the name of the Board, sources said it was the Thakore Vikas Board.

The Chief Minister disagreed when asked if he considered Revashia's murder to be politically-motivated. When told that BJP men were suspected to be behind the killing, Patel said, ``Even the deceased was a BJP member.''

It may be recalled that Revashia had been openly accusing Amrutia and Morbi Inspector A M Khambhalia of being hand-in-glove in an extortion racket. Besides, Amrutia, Tapu and Revashia were vying with each other for political power in Morbi. Tapu had contested the last Assembly elections from Morbi on a RJP ticket, and later joined BJP after he lost.

During the briefing, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said investigation in the murder would be impartial. ``We have taken the incident very seriously,'' he said. He said the inquiry was being conducted under the direct supervision of DSP Rahul Sharma.