Describing the allegations against his younger brother as "false and baseless", the Chief Minister told reporters, "Lal Thanzara resigned to prove his innocence and to show that he dared to be probed. "
The Governor earlier in the day accepted Lal Thanzara's resignation from the cabinet on the advice of the Chief Minister.
The Minister of State for Health had put in his papers in the wake of the opposition charge that he was involved in "office of profit" scam.
He was accused of being involved in "office of profit" scam by holding 4.76 lakh shares (21 per cent) in 'Sunshine Overseas' which had bagged construction contracts worth crores of rupees under the state public works department.
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The Chief Minister said that holding shares in a company by a legislator or a minister was "not illegal".
After submitting his resignation as a minister to the Chief Minister, Lal Thanzara had also tendered his resignation as a legislator to the Asembly Speaker yesterday.
The Speaker, now in New Delhi would make the decision after returning to Aizawl on Saturday.
He also said that his younger brother would contest in the event of by-election being held in the latter's constituency if the Congress leaders decided that he should contest.
Sports Minister Zodintluanga, Planning Board Vice Chairman H. Liansailova and Minister of State for Enivironment and Forests Lalrinmawia Ralte accompanied Lal Thanhawla in the press meet.
The Congress leaders said that they pleaded with Lal Thanzara not to resign "but to no avail as he wanted to clear his name".