UP CMO 'abduction': Accused minister Vinod Kumar Singh resigns on 'moral grounds'

Lucknow: Under pressure after allegations of abducting Gonda CMO SP Singh, Uttar Pradesh Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Singh resigned on Friday. Vinod Kumar Singh said he was resigning on moral grounds as the Akhilesh Yadav government in the state wanted to conduct an inquiry into the case. He also demanded a probe into the CMO's role.

Meanwhile, the CMO continues to be in hiding. While speaking to CNN-IBN from an undisclosed location, he said the situation was still the same and that he was under a threat. "The situation is the same as earlier. They came at night. They were trying to kill me and pressuring me to change the report," he said. When the reporter asked him if they can meet, the CMO said that wasn't possible.

The CMO, SP Singh, was allegedly abducted by Vinod Singh alias Pandit Singh as he was 'unhappy' over the refusal to accommodate his nominees on the list of doctors on contract recruited by the district health department under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Vinod Singh allegedly abducted SP Singh, roughed him up and forced him to draw up a fresh list. The CMO somehow made his escape and is in hiding. His family now fears for his life.

The minister concerned, a man with three criminal cases against him, is also an accused in the Rs 35,000 food grain scam. He predictably denied any role and says the CM hasn't even asked him for an explanation.

Pressure has been building on Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to check what's being called the return of 'goondaraj' in the state. Interviews for appointments of doctors in government health centres in Gonda have been postponed after the allegations against Vinod Kumar Singh surfaced. The UP government says interviews won't be conducted till a detailed probe hasn't been carried out. For now, a health department inquiry is on over the October 10 incident.