Jul 6 (IExpress): Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji resigned on Friday after a domestic help alleged that the veteran leader sexually exploited him over the last three years after promising a permanent job. Raghavji was asked to resign by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after a man approached the Habibganj Police Station with a written complaint and an affidavit alleging sodomy and claiming that he kept quiet because he was too scared to expose the high-profile minister.

The police did not register any FIR but the opposition demanded that the minister be charged under Section 377 of the IPC and arrested. Another domestic help filed an affidavit claiming that he too was exploited and claimed that he had shot the video of the sex act of the minister with the first victim on a mobile phone. The victims also handed over a copy of the CD with their police complaint. By evening, local channels started telecasting parts of the CD.

Both alleged victims are from Vidisha, a constituency the former minister represented in the Assembly, and lived with the minister at his official bungalow in Char Imli locality. The two disappeared after filing the complaint, promising to return with more proof, the police claimed.

One of the victims alleged that he had tried to escape few days ago but was lured back. He claimed he feigned illness before escaping to file the police complaint. The victim was reportedly working for a liquor company, a job which the minister had helped him secure, but was waiting for a government job.

The 79-year-old minister and his family members alleged that it was a conspiracy hatched by his opponents but did not clarify who they were. Raghavji said he let the boy live in his official bungalow because he belonged to his district and was too poor to find accommodation on his own. "He is too young to be dragged to court for defamation. What he has said is wrong," he said. His wife Hiraben said, "People level such allegations when their works are not done."

While Chouhan said the minister sent his resignation letter with a request to accept it, Raghavji said the chief minister called him in the morning and asked to send in his resignation and he complied.

The Congress alleged that there was something more to the allegations and the subsequent exit of the minister and demanded that only a CBI inquiry will establish the complete truth. The ruling BJP was embarrassed by the development that happened three days before the assembly's monsoon session—and a few months before the assembly elections.

The veteran had started his political career with the Bharatiya Janasangh in the 1950s. He became the finance minister in 2003 and presented 10 consecutive budgets.

Reports of a CD involving the minister and a woman did the rounds two years ago. The party then brushed it aside as a "personal matter."

"It is shameful that a minister was exploiting a youth by promising him job,'' Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said demanding that the former minster be prosecuted. "Fingers were being pointed at Raghavji's character even in the past. It's surprising that the chief minister tolerated it for so long,'' alleged PCC Chief Kantilal Bhuria. He had indicated last week that there were many 'complaints' against the minister and asked the cadres to expose him through hoardings.

Chouhan, who cancelled a scheduled appointment in the morning, flew to Raipur after accepting the resignation and chose not to comment on the development. Cabinet Minister Jayant Malaiyya was given the charge of Finance portfolio.The BJP, too, refused to comment.