BJP MLA quits over murder charge

GANDHINAGAR, SEPT 23: In a new twist to the sensational Prakash Revashia murder case, Morbi MLA Kanti Amrutia submitted his resignation f...

GANDHINAGAR, SEPT 23: In a new twist to the sensational Prakash Revashia murder case, Morbi MLA Kanti Amrutia submitted his resignation from the party to state BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana last evening while the police arrested Gangaram Tapu, a BJP member and alleged bootlegger from Saurashtra.

Tapu is said to be the brain behind the killing of Revashia, who was a former mayor of Morbi. He was reportedly named by four men arrested for the crime. Fingers were also being pointed at Amrutia, who had a history of political rivalry with Revashia.

The government transferred Morbi city police inspector A M Khambhalia in what it claims is a move to ensure a thorough and fair inquiry.

Party sources said Amrutia called on Rana, put in his papers, and said these should be accepted if he was found guilty. While Amrutia was not available for comment, a party leader said he had resigned to escape allegations of his influencing the investigation.

Earlier in the day, Amrutia met Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.Patel said Amrutia had given him a memorandum, stating that his name was being 8220;wrongly circulated as one of the conspirators.8221;

The Chief Minister admitted that Tapu8217;s name was cleared for nomination as director of a statutory board, but the appointment had not yet been made. Patel said he didn8217;t remember the name of the board, but sources said it was the Thakore Vikas Board.

The Chief Minister disagreed that Revashia8217;s murder was politically-motivated. When told that BJP men were suspected to be behind the killing, Patel said, 8220;Even the deceased was a BJP member.8221;

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Before his murder last week, Revashia had accused Amrutia and Morbi Inspector A M Khambhalia of being hand-in-glove in an extortion racket. Besides, Amrutia, Tapu and Revashia were vying with each other for political power in Morbi. Tapu had contested the last Assembly election from Morbi on a RJP ticket, and later joined BJP after he lost.