Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari has accepted the resignation of businessman Vijay Mallya from his membership in the Upper House.
Mallya’s resignation — sent on May 3 — was accepted on Wednesday, shortly after the Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha headed by Dr Karan Singh recommended his expulsion from the Upper House with immediate effect.
This is the second time Mallya had send resignation letter after his first letter, sent on May 2, was rejected for not having original signature and not being in proper format.
The second resignation letter sent on May 3 had only one line saying he resigns from the Rajya Sabha membership and was signed in original by him. The letter was hand delivered to Ansari’s office.
Earlier, the Ethics Committee, in its report submitted to Ansari, had recommended taking stern action against Mallya will send out a message to the people that Parliament is committed to take such steps against erring members to uphold the dignity and prestige of the institution. The report was to be discussed and passed in the RS leading to expulsion of the liquor baron.
However, in between Mallya sent his resignation and the matter is now close. Following his resignation, Mallya will be entitled to the pension and all other benefit applicable to ex-members of the Upper House.
The Committee in its report said non disclosure of assets and liabilities and concealing material information by Mallya in his declarations was a serious misconduct.