Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Virbhadra Singh has resigned from the Union Cabinet following the framing of corruption charges against him for allegedly misusing his office when he was the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister in 1989. He met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and tendered his resignation today. PMO sources confirmed that the resignation has been accepted.

Later talking to media persons, Mr Virbhadra Singh said, he has submitted his resignation as he did not want to embarass the party following the framing of charges against him. He said that he has been in politics for over 50 years including Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Claiming that he was being framed, Mr Virbhadra Singh said that nobody has ever raised a finger on his honesty and integrity.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said, he was resigning to devote full time to fight the case. He said that he will go to the court of law and the court of people and expose all.

AIR Correspondent adds that according to the charges framed against the former Chief Minister, he allegedly granted favours to industrialists and his conversation was recorded in an audio CD. In the CD Mr. Virbhadra Singh is allegedly speaking with IAS officer Mohinder Lal and some industrialists regarding alleged monetary transactions for them to invest in the state.