Shillong, Jan. 28: Former Meghalaya governor V. Shanmuganathan quit his gubernatorial post based on mere allegations levelled against him.

However, for chief minister Mukul Sangma, "law does not demand yet" the resignation of home minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh though a minor was alleged to have been sexually exploited twice at a guesthouse run by his son.

On January 26, Shanmuganathan resigned as governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh following allegations by Raj Bhavan staff in Shillong that he was "seriously compromising" the dignity of the gubernatorial office and turning Raj Bhavan into a "young ladies' club".

Lyngdoh did not resign though there are demands from various quarters that the home minister step down after a 14-year-old was alleged to have been sexually exploited twice at Marvelene's Inn, a guesthouse owned by his son Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai.

After the swearing-in of new governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan here, reporters had asked Mukul if Lyngdoh would also step down like Shanmuganathan, to which he replied: "There are relevant provisions of law which will tell us whether I (chief minister) have to ask any of my cabinet colleagues to resign or not. But as of now, 'no'. No...the law does not demand (Lyngdoh's resignation)."

When reporters referred to Shanmuganathan - who quit on the basis of mere allegations - and said this should be also an example for the state's home minister, Mukul asked them not to link the two issues.

"If you are saying 'mere allegations', that means you are already giving a clean chit", the chief minister said.

To a query on whether the state government is trying to shield Lyngdoh, the chief minister asked: "Shielding of what? The provisions of law...please have faith in the whole system of investigation and the judiciary. Our administration of justice is vibrant, insulated from all manipulations. That much I can assure you as far as the state is concerned. No one can tamper with the process of law. This is the assurance I give you. In as far as the state and the nation is concerned, law of the land must prevail and have faith in our system of administration of justice, which is vibrant."

Lyngdoh, who was standing near Mukul, later told reporters that his case was different from that of Shanmuganathan when asked if he would resign as home minister.

"Mine is different (from that of Shanmuganathan). I do not have any complicity. The guesthouse (Marvelene's Inn) is not run by me, but by the management," Lyngdoh said. "What wrong have I done? If you say 'crime', it can be committed anywhere and at any place; nobody can predict. If you can predict, then you can preempt," Lyngdoh asserted.

When pointed out that he should resign as his family guesthouse is involved in a sex racket, Lyngdoh pleaded ignorance. "Investigation is on and there is no tampering with the investigation," he said.

To a question regarding the sudden transfer of officer-in-charge of Madanrting police station here - who was investigating the alleged sexual exploitation of the girl - Lyngdoh said: "He has nothing to say about it as everything was done within the department level."

The girl was alleged to have been exploited sexually several times and she was also taken to Lumsohphoh guesthouse owned by one D.M. Lyngdoh as well as Orchid Lake resort being run by the Meghalaya tourism department.

As many as 13 persons were arrested, including MLA Julius Dorphang, in connection with trafficking of the girl for sexual exploitation. Dorphang and the other arrested are still in judicial custody.