Punjab health minister sacked, arrested over graft charges

India's northwest state of Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sacked the state's Health Minister Vijay Singla following corruption charges on Tuesday.

The is evidence that the health minister was demanding a 1 per cent commission from officials for contracts, Indian news agency ANI reports, citing the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Indian news media NDTV reports that the Punjab CMO received a complaint about the health minister only 10 days ago, and an operation was executed shortly, which revealed the minister's corruption.

"Not even one per cent corruption will be tolerated," Mr Mann said in a video message after Singla was sacked.

Minister Singla was arrested soon after his removal, and the police have been directed to register a case against him, NDTV reports.

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This is only the second time in India’s history that a CM has taken such strict action against their cabinet colleague. In 2015, Aam Aadmi Party Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had sacked one of his Ministers on corruption charges.