SC throws Surupsingh in, govt throws him out

MUMBAI: Transport Minister Surupsingh Naik resigned on Friday after the Supreme Court dismissed his review petition seeking pardon for contempt of court.

The judges said, “We are sorry to say that the court does not subscribe to the ‘slap, say sorry, and forget’ school of thought.”

CM Vilasrao Deshmukh directed Singh’s resignation to Governor SM Krishna, who accepted it. The government also suspended Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Khot who was held guilty in the same case. Singh and Khot are expected to surrender on Saturday morning to serve the one-month prison term ordered by the court.

Earlier on Friday, Deshmukh met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. During deliberations it was settled that Naik should step down.

A source said there was unanimity in the state government and the Congress leadership that Naik should resign. “There were no options left after the Supreme Court dismissed his mercy and review petitions,” the source said.

The process of suspending Khot had begun on Friday morning. The general administration department initiated the process of Khot’s suspension in accordance with the service rules. In the evening, the CM’s office approved the suspension. The officer was to retire in a couple of months.