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In a sudden move, Delhi’s Environment and Food and Supplies Minister Asim Ahmed Khan was on Friday sacked by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over charges of corruption and the case has been referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The chief minister said the decision to sack Khan was taken after examining a audio clip of a purported conversation in which the food minister was heard asking for a bribe from a builder.
Kejriwal, announcing the decision to remove Khan at a press conference, said Imran Hussain, first time MLA from Ballimaran, will be the new face in his Cabinet.
Elaborating on the complaint against Khan, he said the government had received allegations against him on Thursday night that he demanded money from a builder to continue construction of a building in his constituency of Matia Mahal.
“We received a complaint last night that a building was being built in his constituency. Its construction was stopped and money was demanded from the builder, who paid the amount. There was a mediator between the MLA and the minister,” the chief minister said.
Asking the Bharatiya Janata Party to follow suit, the Aam Aadmi Party leader demanded removal of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for their alleged involvement in graft.
“We will not spare anyone -- be it a minister, MLA or officer. Just give us evidence and we will remove the culprit the moment such charges are brought to our notice,” the CM said.
Sources said Khan, when confronted with the audio clip, had confessed to Kejriwal of his wrongdoing.
The CM said the action has been taken suo motu.
“It was not a result of media expose. There will be no compromise with corruption. The decision has been taken with a heavy heart as there was a lot of trust involved. He’s being removed till the CBI probe is on,” he said.