Rajasthan govt for CBI probe against minister charged with rape

The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan Saturday recommended a CBI probe against a minister who resigned after a case of rape was registered against him, sources said.

"The state government has recommended a CBI probe against the minister. The recommendation will be forwarded to the department of personnel and training (DoPT) in Delhi which will issue a notification," said a senior home department official who did not want to be identified.

The Rajasthan Police CID was probing the case for the past five days.

A 35-year-old woman had registered a first information report (FIR) against Minister of State for Dairy and Rural Industries Babulal Nagar at the Sodala police station here Tuesday.

"The woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) today (Saturday)," said a police officer.

Nagar, who resigned Thursday, claimed innocence and alleged that he was being framed in "a political conspiracy".

He told reporters that he sent in his resignation letter to Gehlot's office so that the police can conduct a free and fair probe.

Nagar represents the Dudu constituency in Ajmer district in the state assembly.

A police officer said the woman had approached a court which directed the police to register the FIR against the minister.