New Delhi/ Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Peerzada Mohmmad Sayeed  resigned from the Omar Abdullah-led government today. This comes after the controversy over his alleged use of office to ensure his foster son was allowed to cheat in his Class 10 exams. Mr Sayeed, who is from the Congress, forwarded his resignation to Party Chief Sonia Gandhi. The Congress High Command is likely to inform Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the action soon.

Mr Abdullah's party National Conference and Congress are coalition partners in the Jammu and Kashmir government.

The state's Crime Branch, which was investigating the matter, gave its findings to Mr Abdullah on Wednesday.  The opposition has been asking for the report to be made public. Earlier today, members of the BJP protested in Jammu asking for Mr Sayeed's resignation.

Sources say Mr Abdullah had yesterday asked Me Sayeed to resign.

The answer sheet for Mr Sayeed's foster son showed two different sets of handwriting. He took his Class 10 exam in 2009, allegedly with help from officials in the Education Department, one of whom is believed to have written some answers for the student. One of the supervisors had brought the matter to the notice of the state education board, but was allegedly hushed up. Members of the Board of School Education (BOSE) claim they filed a complaint about the case of cheating, but their recommendation for an inquiry and action were rejected by the Secretary of the Board.

In 2010, an anonymous complaint was made to Governor NN Vora, who forwarded the matter to Mr Abdullah. At the Chief Minister's behest an inquiry was carried out by the General Administration Department, but the results to this have not been made public.

Last week the answer sheet in question was published in a local newspaper, after which Mr Abdullah handed over the case over to the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Tags: J&K education minister, Omar Abdullah, Peerzada Mohmmad Sayeed, Peerzada son exam