Government accepts Arvind Kejriwal's resignation after six years

NEW DELHI: Government has finally accepted the resignation of Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal from the Indian Revenue Service ( IRS), almost six years after he quit the job.

The acceptance of resignation came 45 days after Kejriwal deposited over Rs nine lakh as dues to settle the issue.

"The government has finally accepted my resignation from the Income Tax Department. I received the letter today," Kejriwal told PTI. He had quit the IRS in February 2006.

Kejriwal, who was a Joint Commissioner in IT Department when he quit, had earlier said he will fight in court to retrieve the money he had paid as dues.

He had on November three submitted a cheque of over Rs 9,27,787 along with a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him not to trouble his six friends who had given him an interest-free loan to settle his dues.

The 43-year-old activist, a 1995-batch IRS officer, had decided to settle the dues in an attempt to blunt attacks by his detractors.

Government has claimed that he had violated bond rules by quitting the service before completing mandatory three years of service after going on a study leave on full pay. However, Kejriwal said he took non-paid leave and quit the service after serving bond conditions.

Kejriwal had taken study leave on full pay for two years from November 1, 2000 after signing a bond that he would return the salary if he resigns or retires or fails to resume duty within three years of his study leave. He rejoined on November 1, 2002 but took non-paid leave after 18 months.