Maya sacks minister indicted by Lokayukta

Following an indictment by the Lokayukta,state Minister of State for Homeopathy and Religious Endowment Rajesh Tripathi resigned on Saturday,an official statement said,adding the minister was asked to resign by Chief Minister Mayawati.

Following an indictment by the Lokayukta,state Minister of State for Homeopathy and Religious Endowment Rajesh Tripathi resigned on Saturday,an official statement said,adding the minister was asked to resign by Chief Minister Mayawati.

A complaint was filed with the Lokayukta that Mukti Path Sewa Sansthan,a society headed by Tripathi,runs a crematorium on the banks of Saryu in Chillupar in Gorakhpur district and that the society was charging unauthorised subscription for the cremation of bodies.

The society had allegedly grabbed the government land on the banks,constructed shops and was carrying out commercial activities.

The Lokayukta in his report sent to the chief minister earlier this week had held the minister guilty of illegally occupying government land and conducting commercial activities.

It had recommended that the minister be restrained from holding two offices being minister of state and chairman of the society.

Earlier,taking cognizance of the complaint,state Lokayukta Justice (retd) N K Mehrotra had issued a notice to the minister.

The minister had appeared before the Lokayukta on December 15 and denied all charges levelled in the complaint and also offered to resign from the post of chairman of the sansthan,a society registered under the Firms and Societies Act.

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However,within 24 hours,the minister retracted and refused to resign from the society.

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