Amid allegations of corruption, Punjab minister Fauja Sarari resigns

New Delhi: Fauja Singh Sarari, the minister of horticulture for Punjab, resigned from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's cabinet on Saturday, months after an audio clip of him reportedly "fixing a deal to extort money" surfaced.

Bhagwant Mann received the resignation letter from Fauja Sarari, and it is understood that it was accepted.

He cited personal reasons for his resignation,

Since an audio clip of his alleged talk with a close aide about a plan to "trap" some contractors with the help of government officials to extort money went viral on social media, the 62-year-removal old's from the cabinet has been imminent.

However, the minister has asserted that the tape was "doctored" to frame him.

A significant reshuffle of the Punjab cabinet is possible following this resignation.