JOIN USAgriculture minister and senior Biju Janata Dal leader Pradip Maharathi, whose name cropped up in the recent case of alleged gang rape of a dalit girl in his Assembly constituency of Pipli in coastal Puri district, resigned from the Cabinet on Thursday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sent his resignation letter to Governor M C Bhandare for acceptance. “This morning, Maharathi came to me and submitted his resignation letter, which I have forwarded to the Governor,” Patnaik told reporters at the secretariat.
The Opposition parties and women’s organisations had been pressing for Maharathi’s resignation after the family of the victim revealed that the perpetrators of the crime were close associates of the senior minister. The Opposition had also charged the minister of protecting the accused persons.
Maharathi, however, refuted the allegations and insisted that he resigned from his post to protect the prestige and image of his party and leader, and to pave the way for a free and fair investigation into the incident. The state government has already ordered a judicial as well as crime branch probe into the sensational case.
“I am innocent and prepared to face any kind of investigation. The truth must come out and culprits involved in the crime must be punished,” he told reporters soon after submitting his resignation letter to the chief minister at the latter’s residence.
Opposition parties who continued to demand a CBI probe and resignation of the chief minister, who heads Home department, on moral grounds.
“The minister’s resignation is not sufficient. The chief minister should resign and hand over the case to the CBI for a free and fair investigation”, state Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik said.
The crime branch arrested Sukanta Pradhan, the fourth and final accused on Thursday.