Under mounting pressure from the Opposition parties, women organisations, student forums and intellectual groups, Orissa agriculture minister and senior BJD leader Pradeep Maharathy stepped down from his post.
Mr Maharathy faces the allegation of shielding the accused in the much-hyped Pipili dalit girl gangrape case.
The resignation follows the chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s hectic discussion with senior party leaders and top government officials.
“I resigned from my post on moral ground since my name was dragged into the case. Besides, I wanted to uphold the good name of my party and its leadership,” Mr Maharathy, soon after tendering his resignation letter to the CM, told reporters.
The chief minister has sent the letter to governor for his acceptance.
“I have sent the minister’s resignation letter for acceptance. My government has ordered Crime Branch and judicial probe into the unfortunate incident. We will shortly see the results,” the chief minister said.
The BJP and Congress dismissed the resignation of Mr Maharathy as a “mere gimmick” and demanded that the chief minister should step down.
“Law and order comes under the jurisdiction of the chief minister. He should have stepped down instead of the agriculture minister,” said senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra.
State Congress president Niranjan Patnaik, while demanding resignation of the chief minister, said women were not safe under the present regime.
Stating that Mr Maharathy’s resignation was not adequate, CPI state general secretary Dibakar Nayak said the Pipili police inspector, who did not receive the complaint of victim, should be booked immediately.
Meanwhile, the crime branch on Thursday arrested Sukant Pradhan alias Abua, the fourth accused in the gangrape case from Rasulgarh Square here.