UP minister puts in papers after Lokayukta indictment

Uttar Pradesh minister of state for animal husbandry and dairy development Awadh Pal Singh Yadav on Wednesday submitted his resignation to chief minister Mayawati, a day after state Lokayukta N K Mehrotra recommended his removal for corruption in office.
 
"I have sent my resignation to the chief minister. I am resigning on moral grounds," the minister told the media.

"He resigned from his post for ensuring impartial probe into the matter so that facts may be brought to the fore," an official press release said.
 
However, reports said, he resigned after Mayawati summoned him. Apparently, Yadav read the writing on the wall.
 
On Tuesday, Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra had recommended Yadav's removal from the ministry and lodging of cases against him under the Anti-Corruption Act and the Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act.
 
According to the Lokayukta, Yadav had grabbed gram sabha land, facilitated the award of contracts to his son and other relatives, motivated criminal cases against his political rivals, and tried to influence the district administration during the election of the chairperson of a block development committee in Etah district.
 
The Lokayukta also recommended that all cases lodged against Yadav after 2007 be handed over to an independent agency like the crime branch of the Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough probe.
 
In his report, Mehrotra has cited police inaction on evidence provided against the minister in a triple murder case in Etah, and blamed the senior superintendent of police for not providing adequate information to him on cases lodged against Yadav.
 
His involvement in the murder of three people in Etah had led to the issue being raised in the Assembly a few days back. The opposition had accused the government of shielding Yadav, leading to adjournment of the House. He was accused of being involved in the murder of jeweller Vijay Verma, his son, and their bodyguard in Jaithra area of Etah.
 
The lokayukta said that investigations carried out by his office had found that Yadav was also involved in the manufacture of illicit liquor.
 
Yadav's resignation comes close on the heels of the exit of two formerly powerful ministers in the Mayawati government - Babu Singh Kushwaha and Anant Kumar Mishra - who had to resign after the murder of three government doctors and alleged massive corruption in the National Rural Health Mission scheme.