In a huge embarrassment to the poll-bound BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, one of its senior most ministers, the 79-year-old finance minister Raghavji, was forced to resign Friday after his male servant filed a police complaint accusing him of sexual exploitation including sodomy. The servant, Rajkumar Dangi, who was with Raghavji for the last three-four years, also submitted an affidavit along with his complaint claiming he was in possession of a CD containing an obscene video that showed him in a compromising position with a woman.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, according to Raghavji, called him around 10.30 am Friday 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 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 budgets in 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. He also said there was a conspiracy to malign him.
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. Police said Dangi went to the Habibganj police station Thursday night and filed a complaint in which he charged the minister with forcing him to engage in unnatural sex.
Along with the complaint, Rajkumar also submitted an affidavit in which he claimed he had a CD containing video clip of the minister with a woman in a compromising position. After filing the complaint, Rajkumar has vanished and police are now looking for him so that his detailed statement could be recorded and FIR registered. Raghavji's wife Heeraben came out in defence of her beleagured husband, terming the accusations as "falsehood" and "part of a conspiracy". "His position is such that people whose work doesn't gets done begin to level false allegations. Sometimes false charges are also made in order to extort money, you see," she told reporters.
The scandal-hit BJP leader's daughter Jyoti Shah too rubbished the allegations, calling them "strange". According to the buzz in political circles, Raghavji was planning to retire from electoral politics and pass on the baton to his daughter who was likely to contest election from his traditional Vidisha seat.
Notwithstanding the protestations by an embattled Raghavji and his family, Opposition Congress mounted a scathing attack on him, terming the development as "most shameless" and demanding immediate registration of a case against the BJP leader. "The chief minister should tell the people what prompted him to seek Raghavji's resignation. We have information that his servant has accused him of a shameless act. A case must be filed against him immediately and he should face the judicial process as a common man," MP Congress spokesman Mukesh Nayak said.
Meanwhile, several Congress workers carrying party flags are demonstrating in front of the Habibganj police station demanding registration of a case against Raghavji and his arrest. Meanwhile, Vijaywargiya claimed that the complainant was in touch with Congress leaders and also media since last night and filed the complaint with the police today. He told reporters that the Congress has hatched a conspiracy to defame the BJP government as the state assembly polls are due later this year.
