CBI charge-sheets Ajit Jogi

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi for using forged documents to tarnish the Intelligence Bureau's image.

Also see: EC announces poll dates | Jogi rules out resignation

The charge sheet follows just a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for assembly elections in five states, including Chhattisgarh.

The charge sheet was filed in the additional chief metropolitan magistrate's court at Karkardooma.

As the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Nationalist Congress Party bayed for his blood, Jogi ruled out his resignation,  saying the CBI action is politically motivated.

"Do you expect all Congress chief ministers to resign if the CBI charge-sheets them?" he asked reporters in Raipur.

He had ample support from his party. Congress spokesman Jaipal Reddy told reporters in Delhi that there was no cause for Jogi to step down.

In March this year, Jogi had alleged that IB's Special Directorate had launched an operation code-named 'Black Sea' to target opposition leaders in the run-up to the elections in Congress-ruled states.

He also circulated some documents in support of his claim, copies of which were also sent to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Immediately after Jogi went public with the claim, Vajpayee ordered a CBI inquiry into the allegations.

The CBI charge sheet alleges that Jogi used forged  documents to support his allegations.

The IB all along has denied that there was any operation codenamed 'Black Sea'.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi summoned a meeting of senior party leaders soon after the news of the CBI charge sheet reached her.

The BJP demanded that Jogi must resign as his position has become untenable after the CBI charge sheet.

"Jogi should resign as chief minister. As a [former] civil servant, he knows how to make files and he has taken advantage by doctoring them. We will make this a major election issue," BJP spokesman Prakash Jawdekar told reporters.

With inputs from rediff.com correspondent Tara Shankar Sahay