NEW DELHI: Amid allegations of molestation, Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan resigned late on Thursday, Government sources said.
His resignation comes after the Union Home Ministry on Thursday morning sought a response from Meghalaya Government on the allegations against Shanmuganathan. The Ministry also sought a clarifications from the Governor over reports of molestation against him and the petition by a group of Raj Bhavan employees seeking his removal from the Constitutional post.
The Governor had earlier denied the allegations.
Earlier in the day, a section of Raj Bhavan employees also demanded his removal for "seriously compromising" the dignity of the gubernatorial office.
As many 98 Raj Bhavan employees in a letter to the Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee said, "We expect the hon'ble Prime Minister to take action and remove the incumbent Governor of Meghalaya and restore the dignity of Raj Bhavan." V Shanmuganathan.News18
Reports quoted employees as alleging, "He (Shanmuganathan) has seriously compromised the dignity of the Raj Bhavan and made it a young ladies' club. It has become a place where young ladies come and go at will on direct orders of the Governor... Many of them have direct access to his bedroom."
In their letter, the employees claimed that security of the Governor's house has also been compromised.
“The resignation letter along with a recommendation from the Government will be forwarded to the President for acceptance,” a Home Ministry official said.
Shanmuganathan was sworn in as the Governor of Meghalaya in May last year. In the thick of the allegations, Shanmuganathan on Thursday attended a Republic Day celebration in Arunachal Pradesh, whose additional charge he holds since November last year when Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa was removed from the post.