Chinkara case: Atram quits, sees conspiracy

The state Forest Department had seized Atram's Ford Endeavour in connection with the hunting incident near Gulunche village in Purandar taluka of Pune district — on the intervening night of June 14 and 15 — from the minister's official residence in Mumbai. Raids on his Panchagni farmhouse on Friday led to the recovery of some hair in a half-burnt plastic cover.

Vehicles belonging to Atram's alleged accomplices, one from Mumbai and another from Panchgani, were also seized.

In his resignation letter, Atram, a three-term MLA from Sironcha in Gadchiroli, has pleaded his innocence and alleged that some people in the administration were trying to involve him in the case. Incidentally, like Atram, Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute also belongs to the NCP.

“I do not agree with sticking to my ministerial post while the inquiry is going on. I am resigning as a minister to ensure that the inquiry is an impartial one," the letter adds.

A red-faced NCP, which is seeing its third minister quit over allegations in the present government, tried to save face saying Atram had upheld the tradition of party leaders putting in their papers if facing charges. "It has been the tradition of every junior and senior party activist to quit after charges have been levelled against them," said NCP general secretary Prakash Binsale.

Belonging to the erstwhile royal family of Atrams in the tribal Vidarbha region, Atram was in 1992 kidnapped by Naxalites and held hostage for four days. He was the minister of state for tribal affairs and forests then. He was eventually released after a Naxal demand to release one of their leaders was met.