Amid being accused of being involved in the death of a Beed-based woman, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rathod resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday.
"There has been a lot of dirty politics over the issue of the woman's death," Rathod told reporters, adding he has quit the state cabinet so that the truth can unravel.
Rathod, who held the forest portfolio, was facing allegations of complicity in the death of Puja Chavan (23), a resident of Beed district, who was found dead in Pune on February 8, apparently after falling from the building in which she lived.
While talking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Rathod said he had resigned to facilitate a free and fair probe.
"Attempts are being made to tarnish my image and destroy my reputation. And even though I wanted a probe before taking any decision, the Opposition threatened to disrupt the budget session, which is why I resigned," Rathod said.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said the resignation of the minister wasn't enough and demanded that an FIR should be filed against him.
The BJP has accused Rathod of having links with the woman after his purported photographs, audio and video clips with her went viral on social media.
With PTI Inputs
