In a huge embarassment for Madhya Pradesh's BJP government in an election year, a senior minister was today forced to resign after his male servant filed a police complaint accusing him of sexual exploitation.
The servant, Rajkumar Dangi, who was with Finance Minister Raghavji, 79, for the last 3-4 years, also submitted an affidavit, along with his complaint, claiming he was in possession of a CD containing an obscene video that purportedly showed him in a compromising position with a woman.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, according to Raghavji, called him around 10.30 this morning and asked him to tender his resignation.
"I have resigned on the advice of the Chief Minister. Only he can tell you the details (of why my resignation was sought). We spoke for some time and he told me he was going to Raipur and will let me know of the reasons on his return," Raghavji, who had set a record of sorts by presenting 10 budgetsin a row from 2004 to 2013, told reporters.
"I don't know what allegations he (Rajkumar) has levelled against me but, if what you say is true, then the charges are false," he said, terming the police complaint against him by his servant as a "conspiracy" to malign him.
The charges of sodomy are "fake", he said. The Chief Minister is learnt to have forwarded Raghavji's resignation to Governor Ram Naresh Yadav for acceptance.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Jayant Malaiyya has been given additional charge of the finance portfolio.
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