UP minister resigns, govt recommends CBI probe into girl's murder

Lucknow, Nov 6 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Minister Anand Sen Yadav today tendered his resignation from the Mayawati cabinet following the alleged involvement of his close relative in the murder of a girl student in Faizabad district.

The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the incident, Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told a hurriedly called press conference this evening.

The minister tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Mayawati this evening on moral grounds and claimed he was innocent.

''So far, there is no proof connecting the minister to the crime,'' the state Cabinet Secretary told reporters.

The decision to request the Centre for a CBI probe came minutes after the minister tendered his resignation from state cabinet.

When the Mayawati cabinet had taken oath of office and secrecy in May, 2007, Yadav could not be sworn in as a minister as he was behind bars in a murder case. He took oath later.

His father Mitra Sen Yadav, an MP, was allegedly involved in a case of human trafficking.

The driver of the minister Vijay Sen Yadav -- who is also said to be his close relative -- is accused of kidnapping and murder of Shashi, a third year LLB student of Saket Degree College in Faizabad n October 22.

In his statement to the police, Vijay Sen claimed that he had relationships with the girl and she committed suicide by jumping in river Gomti. ''Though his statement has not yet been recorded, he is under police remand and the interrogation might reveal more details,'' said the Cabinet Secretary.

The girl's father, Yogendra, had written a letter to the Faizabad Divisional Commissioner to look into the matter.

In his letter he had claimed that the minister, who is also a local MLA, had also helped him by contacting police officers.

The victim's father had claimed that besides Vijay Sen, a girl identified as Seema was also involved in the disapperance of his daughter. He had also mentioned a few mobile phone numbers in his letter to the Divisional Commissioner.

However, yesterday Yogendra called a press conference and alleged that the minister too was involved in the case.

Earlier, the issue had rocked the state assembly with Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav alleging that the Mayawati government was protecting the minister.

Raising the issue in the state assembly, the leader of the Opposition demanded a high level probe into the incident.

The resignation of the minister came soon after this.

UNI