Buta resigns as Bihar Governor

Seventy-one-year-old Buta faxed his resignation, following his indictment by SC, hours after taking R-Day salute.

Two days after the Supreme Court held him guilty of misleading the Centre on the issue of dissolution of Bihar Assembly, Buta Singh on Thursday stepped down as the Governor of Bihar.

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He will leave for New Delhi tonight.

The successor to Buta will be appointed in consultation with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, sources said.

Seventy-one-year-old Buta faxed his resignation within hours of taking the salute at the Republic Day parade.

His exit had appeared imminent after the strong indictment by the Supreme Court in the case relating to imposition of President's rule in Bihar last year, saying his report to the Centre was "misleading" and was done to prevent the JD(U) from forming a government in May.

Referring to the Supreme Court's criticism that he had misled the Centre, Buta said he had sent two reports to the President on April 27 and May 21 only on the basis of "strong proof" of horse-trading.

On the other criticism that he had not entertained the claim of JD(U) to form the government, he put a counter question "who claimed?".

"Injustice has been meted out to me," he said adding, "out of sheer respect for the Supreme Court I have resigned".

To a query whether he has been made a scapegoat, Buta dismissed it as a "politically-motivated question".

Buta also said he would approach the Supreme Court and put forward his position.