Mumbai, February 26 Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal on Thursday denied any involvement in a bribery case involving a clerk in his office as the Opposition pressed for his resignation in the Legislative Council until the ongoing investigation into the matter was complete.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on February 12 apprehended FDA clerk Rajendra Dherange while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 at Mantralaya (state secretariat) in south Mumbai. Zirwal's private secretary, Dr Ramdas Gade, was also relieved of his post and directed to report back to his parent department following a sting operation related to bribery.
Raising the issue in the Council, Satej Patil (Congress) said the ACB had conducted reconnaissance for two days before raiding the NCP minister's office.
"The minister should not remain in his position until he was cleared of all charges and the ongoing investigation was complete. The minister should resign," Patil demanded in the Upper House.
Responding to the charge, Zirwal maintained that he was in Delhi when Dherange was arrested and insisted that he had nothing to do with the bribery case.
"I have nothing to do with this. I have never encouraged such tendencies and will not do so in the future," the NCP cabinet member told the Council as he defended himself.
Zirwal further noted that both Dherange (clerk) and Gade (private secretary) had been repatriated to their parent cadres as they were on deputation in his office.
However, Opposition members were not satisfied with Zirwal's response and demanded his resignation. They also staged a walkout from the Council over the issue.