Rajasthan minister Babulal Nagar booked for rape resigns

Rajasthan's Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Babulal Nagar, who has been booked for raping a woman on the pretext of providing her a 'suitable job', has reportedly resigned.

According to television reports, Nagar has sent his resignation to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

"There are baseless accusations on me, on moral grounds and being a member of a responsible party, I am thinking if I should quit, Nagar said this morning.

His exit indicated damage control by the Ashok Gehlot government, already singed by the sensational killing of Bhanwari Devi, for which two Congress leaders, including a minister, are in jail.

The Jaipur Police has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Nagar and ordered a probe.

Bhawani Singh, SHO Sodala, Jaipur, said the victim has in her complaint said that Nagar called her for some urgent work, locked her in the room and raped her.

According to reports, the woman got her statement recorded before the Chief Judicial Magistrate on September 13.

She has in her complaint said that the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies asked her to visit him at noon on September 11, and later sexually assaulted her.