MUMBAI: Maharashtra industries minister Subhash Desai met Devendra Fadnavis this morning and offered to resign but the chief minister refused to accept it.
The minister, whose role in the denotification of land acquired by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has triggered opposition allegations of corruption, has been asked to continue in the cabinet till the findings of an inquiry come in.
Fadnavis had assured the state legislature Friday night that an independent probe would be initiated into Desai actions in the controversy.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray defended Desai, who belongs to his party. "Those who are leveling allegations of corruption are themselves neck deep in it. They are not ashamed of their own deeds," he said.
He said mere allegations should not warrant a resignation. That would set a bad precedent, which would dent Maharashtra's image.