Assam Minister sacked after CBI arrest (Changing dateline)

Guwahati, Jun 3 (UNI) Assam Education Minister Ripun Bora was sacked from the ministry following his arrest by the CBI while trying to bribe a its official investigating a murder case in which he was the accused.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held an emergent meeting with his advisers and senior state leaders of the party at New Delhi this evening and decided to sack the minister.

The Chief Minister's press adviser Debo Kumar Bora informed over phone from New Delhi that the Chief Minister himself would now hold the additional portfolio of Education.

The Congress government today plunged into a crisis after CBI arrested Ripun Bora, businessman Ramesh Maheswari and journalist Mukul Pathak in the same case.

All of them are being interrogated by the CBI officials at its headquarters. They would be produced before the court tomorrow.

Mr Bora was arrested today as he tried to bribe a CBI officer with Rs 10 lakh this afternoon at New Delhi.

Meanwhile, AGP has demanded resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Leader of the Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary said Mr Gogoi was aware of Mr Bora's involvement in the murder case but he protected him and hence should take the moral responsibility and resign.

Mr Bora was accused of killing his old political rival Daniel Toppo in 1998. The minister, according to CBI sources, allegedly approached the officer with Rs 10 lakh through an Assam based journalist Mukul Pathak.

Mr Bora was picked up from his residence at Mathura Road.

On the other hand Pathak, the ''Amar Asom'' journalist, was sacked by his employer.

The incident has shocked the Congress party as Mr Bora had been one of the most influential ministers of the Gogoi cabinet.

BJP state president Ramen Deka said today's incident only exposed how corrupt the whole Congress government was.

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