Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Madhya Pradesh (MP) finance minister Raghavji resigned on Friday after his 30-year-old male servant accused him of sodomy.
The victim, hailing from Vidisha district, alleged that he had been physically exploited for three years and even mentioned about an obscene CD in his complaint.
The police have confirmed that a complaint has been filed against the 79-year-old BJP leader and investigation is being carried out into the matter. They said an FIR would be filed against the accused only after verifying the charges and added that the victim would have to undergo medical examination as it is related with unnatural sex.
Raghavji tendered his resignation paper at the behest of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who was said to be furious on learning about the alleged obscene CD. The finance portfolio has been handed over to Water Resources Minister Jayant Malaiyya.
"I have resigned on the advice of the chief minister. Only he can tell you the details (of why my 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," The Financial Express quoted him as saying.
It appears that the alleged CD is in possession of Madhya Pradesh Congress. "I have no knowledge about who exactly is in possession of the CD in the state Congress but if we did not have it, the finance minister would not have been asked to resign. It is very unfortunate that a senior leader has been accused of such grave misconduct," Congress leader Ajay Singh told Times of India.
However, Raghavji claimed that the allegation levelled against him is a conspiracy against him by the Congress party.
"I don't know what he has said in his complaint. He belongs to a very poor family and I have always helped him. He has been working in my house for the past three to four years and never complained. If now he is alleging immoral behaviour then it is surely a conspiracy. And if the Congress makes this an issue, it would only expose their mentality," he told the daily.
The image of the BJP will be damaged ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections if the allegation levelled against its senior leader turns out true.
