Thiruvananthapuram: Minister K T Jaleel resigned following the controversies regarding the nepotism case. He handed over the resignation letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan a while ago.

The minister resigned while the High Court was considering the petition filed against the Lokayukta order that he is not eligible to continue in the minister post. Jaleel stated in the resignation letter that he is resigning upholding ethical values and the Lokayukta verdict was against him.

K T Jaleel is the second minister in Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. Earlier, E P Jayarajan had resigned following similar allegations and was reinstated into the cabinet after getting clean chit in the case.

The Lokayukta had found Minister K T Jaleel guilty in the nepotism case. The allegations are true and the minister is not eligible to continue in his post as he supported nepotism, the Lokayukta had said in its report.

The controversy erupted after Jaleel appointed his relative K T Adeeb as general manager in the Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation Limited. According to the allegations, a notification was issued allowing relaxation in qualification and thus Adeeb was appointed.

The complaint was filed by V K Muhammed Shafi. The Lokayukta found that all allegations were true and it asked the chief minister to remove Jaleel from his post as he violated the oath and engaged in nepotism.

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