Goa minister Milind Naik resigns from cabinet amid allegations of sexual abuse

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a statement late on Wednesday night saying that Naik has tendered his resignation to ensure a “free and fair investigation”.

In a tweet, the CMO said that Naik tendered his resignation as a minister, which has been accepted and sent to the governor.

Goa Urban Development Minister and BJP MLA Milind Naik on Wednesday resigned from the state cabinet after the Congress alleged that he was involved in a case of sexual abuse.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a statement late on Wednesday night saying that Naik has tendered his resignation to ensure a “free and fair investigation”.

In a tweet, the CMO said that Naik tendered his resignation as a minister, which has been accepted and sent to the governor.

The BJP MLA representing Mormugao assembly constituency in South Goa took over the urban development portfolio in the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet. He was also a part of the previous cabinet led by the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Earlier in the day, Congress Goa chief Girish Chodankar accused Naik of indulging in sexual exploitation of a woman by misusing his power as a cabinet member.

They demanded that Sawant should sack the minister and that the police should start an investigation into the allegations against him.

A fortnight ago, Chodankar had raised the issue for the first time, but did not name the minister at the time. He had given 15 days to the Chief Minister to remove the minister from the cabinet.

CM Sawant had asked Chodankar to name the minister and provide a copy of the complaint lodged against him by the victim.

After Chodankar named Naik, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Sankalp Amonkar also filed a police complaint against the minister. In a press conference, Amonkar also released an purported audio conversation between the victim and the minister.

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