Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr K Keshav Rao has submitted his resignation to the party high command, after the Hyderabad Police filed a case of murder against his son Venkat on Monday.

He took the decision after speaking to Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and Advisor on Public Affairs Dr K V P Ramachandra Rao. Rao faxed his resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] through the All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of AP affairs Digvijay Singh on Monday.

"I am very sensitive to such issues. I care for values in public life. I want the investigation to be absolutely impartial and truthful. I don't want anyone to have apprehensions about any undue influence that perhaps may be cast on the investigations. I also want to avoid any probable criticism, from the media, opposition and the people." 

Earlier, Digvijay Singh told reporters in Delhi, "It is a very sad incident. As far as Dr Keshav Rao is concerned, there is nothing against him. This is a personal matter and it is not a political issue."

When asked if Dr Keshav Rao should resign owning moral responsibility, Singh shot back, "It is for his own conscience to decide."

Meanwhile, Rao stayed away from Gandhi Bhavan, the headquarters of the ruling party in Hyderabad. He stayed put in his Banjara Hills residence, where a large number of Congress leaders and activists came to meet him.

Belonging to the backward Munnuru Kapu community, 68-year-old Rao hails from Telangana region. He was appointed as the APCC president in October 2004 and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2006. He has served as the deputy chairman of the Legislative Council and as the Education Minister in the late 1970s and early 1980s.