Rape accused minister resigns

“No one has asked me to resign. I have taken this decision on moral grounds so that an impartial probe into the allegations is carried out,” he said. “It is a political conspiracy by the opposition.”

The incident spells more trouble for the ruling Congress,two of whose leaders,including a minister,are already in jail in connection with the killing Bhanwari Devi,a nurse.

Medical examination of the alleged victim was conducted on Thursday. Amidst questions on why she was taken to the minister’s house for spot verification late Wednesday night,that too alone and in the presence of the accused,the police yet again took her to the house on Thursday for another round of verification. A forensic team inspected the minister’s bedroom where the alleged incident took place and collected evidence. The bedroom was sealed thereafter.

“We have received his resignation. Even in the case of Asaram Bapu we had called for a fair probe and here too we will maintain the same thing. There will be an impartial investigation into the matter,” CM Ashok Gehlot said.

BJP state chief Vasundhara Raje said,“This is not the first time a minister of the Congress government has been charged with such a heinous crime. More than a third of their ministers have had to resign by now. Now even the CM should be embarrassed of such a team and resign.”

“There are several questions around the probe so far. Why hasn’t the accused been arrested yet and why was the victim taken to the accused’ house late at night in blatant disregard of the Supreme Court’s directions. Congress government keeps claiming they are pro-women and this is what their leaders do,” she said.