Babulal Nagar steps down after Gurudas Kamat steps in; govt keeps mum

Food and Civil Supplies minister, Babulal Nagar, accused of raping a 35-year-old woman at his official residence, resigned from his post on Thursday after state in-charge Gurudas Kamat reportedly got the government to act on the matter.

The 53-year-old sent his resignation to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Thursday. His resignation is likely to be accepted late on Thursday night when CM returns from his Barmer tour.

“I have resigned on moral grounds so that an impartial probe can be carried out in the case. I am not guilty,” Nagar told reporters shortly after stepping down. “I have sent a hand-written resignation to CMO this morning,” he added.

The minister made it clear that decision to resign was his own.

“After many thoughts and second thoughts,

I decided to resign...no one asked me to do this,” he said.

Highly placed sources in the government said that the case can now be handed over to the CBI. However, chief minister Ashok Gehlot who was in Jodhpur denied having any information about Nagar’s resignation, ”I have no information about Nagar’s resignation and I will see to it once I reach Jaipur. I repeat what I said in Aasaram’s case that rule of law is supreme and equal for all, be it a minister or a common man,” Gehlot said.

State in charge Gurudas Kamat who was in Barmer confirmed the development. “We have taken the resignation from Nagar and it has been accepted,” said Gurudas Kamat, state in charge.