Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] has accepted the resignation of Jaiprakash Narain Yadav from the Union Council of Ministers and forwarded it to President A P J Abdul Kalam, Official sources said on Sunday.

Yadav, who has been absconding for nearly a fortnight after the issue of a non-bailable arrest warrant in connection with a poll incident in Bihar put in his papers on Saturday evening.

•  Union minister J P Yadav resigns

Yadav, minister of state for water resources is embroiled in a controversy over the "illegal" release of his brother Vijay Prakash from police custody on October 18.

A court in Jamui had on October 24, issued non-bailable warrant against Yadav, a Rashtriya Janata Dal member of Parliament, and four others, including his brother and RJD candidate for Bihar assembly polls, and suspended police officer Mukteshwar Prasad for facilitating the "illegal" release of Prakash from police custody.     

The minister had moved a bail application the next day which was rejected.

Vijay Prakash had been arrested in his constituency Jamui during polling last month after he was allegedly found in possession of a weapon besides a large quantity of liquor and cash.     

Nearly two weeks after the NBW was issued against the Union Minister, police raided his official residence on Friday but drew a blank.