Goa BJP minister Milind Naik resigns amid allegations of sexual exploitation

Panaji: Amid allegations of involvement in a sexual exploitation case, Goa's Urban Development Minister and BJP legislator Milind Naik tendered his resignation from the state cabinet on Wednesdy.

The resignation comes hours after the Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar on Wednesday alleged that Naik was involved in a sex scandal.

After meeting the BJP legislator late Wednesday night, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that Naik has resigned for a free and fair investigation into the case. "I have accepted the resignation and also sent it to the governor. Whatever evidence the Congress has produced that we will be investigate," he said.

"The minister involved in the sex scandal, Milind Naik, should be sacked and action should be initiated against him. And ministers like Milind Naik who sexually assault women should be not be protected or the people of Goa will not forgive me," Chodankar had told a press conference in Panaji on Wednesday.

Chodankar has also released printouts of what he said were private messages between the woman and the minister to back up his allegation.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also said Naik told him that he will fight the case at a personal level. "The allegations made against him are personal and what he will do about it will be a subject of his personal decision," said Sawant.

The BJP MLA, who represents the Mormugao Assembly constituency in South Goa, held 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.

A fortnight back, Mr Chodankar had first time raised the issue, but had not named the minister at that time. He had given 15 days' time to the chief minister to remove the minister from the cabinet.

Chief Minister Sawant had asked Mr Chodankar to name the minister and also provide the copy of the complaint filed by the victim against him.

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