Kejriwal sets benchmark in propriety, sacks his Cabinet colleague (Update)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who sacked Asim Ahmed Khan from his Cabinet on charges of corruption, on Friday said that it would send a strong message of intolerance for such acts.

"Today's event will send a message to everyone that if they can take action against their own minister, then no one will be spared," Kejriwal told a press conference here.

"Manish (Sisodia) and I listened to that audio clip, we did the preliminary assessment of that and prima facie it seems to be a serious matter. We have received serious complaint of corruption against our Cabinet Minister Asim Ahmed. The complainant has sent us a one-hour audio clip," he added.

The ruling AAP Government in Delhi has referred Ahmed's case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"We received a complaint, assessed it and have decided to remove Asim Ahmed from the Cabinet. We are referring this complaint to the CBI. Till the CBI does not complete its enquiry, till then Asim Ahmed will not serve as a minister," said Kejriwal.

Ballimaran MLA Imran Hussain will replace Asim Ahmed Khan, who held the Food and Civil Supply portfolio, in the Delhi Cabinet.

According to reports, Ahmed had asked for Rs. six lakhs from a builder.