India: Minister quits over murder charges

HYDERABAD, 19 June — A minister of the Andhra Pradesh government has resigned following allegations that he instigated the murder of his driver whom he had sacked four years ago. Labor Minister Sudala Devaiah submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu late Monday. It was forwarded to Governor C. Rangarajan for acceptance. According to sources, Devaiah told Naidu that he would not like to be a minister until his name was cleared. He alleged that he was being framed in the murder of the former driver, V. Srinivas. Devaiah, who hails from Karimnagar district, was inducted into the cabinet last year. Srinivas, 28, who was also from Karimnagar, was murdered in Medak district on May 29. His body was found the next day.