Sex scandal hits BJP in Karnataka
PTI
BANGALORE, MAY 2
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka was today hit by a sex scandal when a minister resigned following an allegation of rape made by the wife of his friend.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harathalu Halappa quit after a leading Kannada daily published a front-page report alleging he sexually assaulted the wife of a social worker.
Within hours of Halappa’s exit, the woman and her husband from Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s home district Shimoga lodged a complaint of rape and criminal intimidation against him with Director General of Police (DGP) Ajai Kumar Singh tonight.
After filing the complaint at the DGP’s residence, the woman’s husband Venkatesh Murthy said the police chief assured that an inquiry would be conducted.
“He (Halappa) has done a bad thing. He should be punished. It (the entire episode) should not become an entertainment for people,” Murthy said while his wife alleged that Halappa had threatened to kidnap their children.
Murthy also alleged Halappa held out a threat to their life and added they did not file the complaint in Shimoga as they feared it might be “dumped” due to “political pressure”.
Earlier, Halappa rubbished the media report, dubbing it “baseless and untrue” and saw a political conspiracy by opponents, including some from his own ruling party.