Tuesday, February 21 2006 15:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar has accepted the resignation of Backward Classes Welfare Minister, Mehboob Ali, who was caught on camera in a TV sting operation, Raj Bhawan sources said today (Feb 21,2006).

The Governor accepted the resignation of the minister late last night, they said.

Ali had faxed his resignation to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav from his home town Amroha on February 18 following the expose in which he was purportedly shown asking for Rs 20 lakh each to transport consignment of narcotics worth Rs one crore in his official vehicle.

Ali had said though the party and government had reposed faith in him and not not asked him to resign after his name was dragged in the controversy, he had resigned from the office to uphold its dignity.

Two other MLAs Somaru Ram of the BJP and Anil Kumar Maurya of the BSP had also figured in the sting operation.

While BJP had suspended its MLA soon after, BSP has yet to take action against its member.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mata Prasad Pandey has constituted an 11-member commitee of the house to probe the allegations against the members who had figured in the sting operation.