West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri, who had courted controversy after threatening a woman officer, said he would comply with the instruction of the Trinamool Congress and resign from his post.
Giri, however, asserted that he will not apologise to anybody.
The ruling party had asked the Jail Minister to resign after videos showing him threatening and verbally abusing forest ranger Manisha Sahu emerged on social media. In the videos, Giri was seen warning Sahu of reducing her tenure after she and her team removed encroachments on forest department land near Tajpur beach.
TMC spokesperson Shantanu Sen said party state president Subrata Bakshi had called Akhil Giri on Sunday afternoon and instructed him to submit his resignation and apologise to the officer.
Talking to reporters later in the day, Giri said he would submit his resignation but dismissed the demand for an apology. He, however, regretted his remarks, saying they were made in an agitated state.
“I will email my resignation tonight and hand it over personally to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tomorrow in the Assembly," he added. The minister said he will continue as an MLA and serve the people in his constituency.
The BJP has demanded the Giri be sacked and arrested over his behaviour to the woman officer.
"Will Mamata Banerjee dare to throw out this minister and put him behind bars? Will charges be filed against him for obstructing government workers and outraging the modesty of women? Let's see if this goon is kicked inside the jail for threatening to indirectly kill and outrage the modesty of a woman," the party said in a post on X.
