Congress slaps corruption charges against BJP minister

Bhopal, Sep 6 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee today demanded the resignation of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Akhand Pratap Singh after lodging a complaint of corruption against him to Lokayukta.

State Congress spokesman K K Mishra told reporters here that he had filed three complaints to the Lokayukta Ripusudan Dayal seeking registration of a case of corruption against Mr Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.

Mr Mishra also urged Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to dismiss Mr Singh to prove his claim of corruption-free rule in the state.

In his complaint, Mr Mishra said the minister was involved in a number of corruption cases, including accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh in allowing the reopening of a petrol pump in the state capital which was closed earlier for selling adulterated fuel.

In another case, he alleged, Mr Singh had revoked the suspension of a wholesale kerosene dealer, who allegedly bungled 83,300 litre kerosene in Rajgarh district.

The minister also illegally distributed fair price shops in Tikamgarh district to Panchayats instead of cooperative societies, he alleged.

UNI BDG SBC HT1548