MUMBAI, APRIL 26: Controversial Social Welfare Minister, Babanrao Gholap, finally resigned tonight after Chief Minister Narayan Rane hinted earlier in the evening that the minister, who is charged with getting kickbacks in the Awami Bank scam, may be sacked if he did not quit before the proposed cabinet expansion on April 29.In the scam, Rs 5 crore was diverted from unutilised funds meant for bodies under Gholap's ministry to an account of a bank which was under liquidation. The money was then siphoned off by a private builder as a loan.Following a public interest litigation filed by Janata Dal leader Sanjeev Chimbulkar and social worker Milind Yadvadkar, the court had asked the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate charges of corruption against the minister.The ACB confirmed that there was a transaction of Rs 40 lakh in the account operated by Gholap's wife after he became a minister. Subsequently, the ACB registered an offence against Gholap under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.Gholap met Rane at around 11.00 in the night at his official residence Varsha and submitted his resignation letter. The minister has said in the letter that he was quitting because of the various charges against him and to uphold the dignity of his party, the Shiv Sena. Rane has accepted his letter and will forward it to the Governor Dr P C Alexander.Earlier in the day, the chief minister told mediapersons that he was planning a minor expansion on April 29. ``It will be a very small expansion. I am planning to induct three new faces in the Cabinet mainly to fill up the vacancies,'' Rane said. Replying to a volley of questions on Gholap, Rane said he would soon take a decision on the minister who is alleged to have received kickbacks in the Awami Bank scam.On Monday night, Gholap and Rane had separate meetings with Thackeray at latter's residence, Matoshree. Both Rane and Thackeray had taken the view that no disciplinary action should be taken against Gholap till he was found guilty by the court on charges of corruption.During the five-week budget session of the State Legislature, the alliance Government had to fight off embarassing attacks by the Opposition who boycotted all dealings with the Minister in the House. Top
