Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi resigned from his post on Wednesday, 3 March, in the wake of an alleged 'sex scandal' CD that put the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state in a spot.
In his resignation letter to the CM, Jarkiholi reportedly said the allegation against him was far from the truth. "As fair investigation should take place, I'm resigning on moral grounds," he wrote.
His resignation has been accepted by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and sent to the governor for approval. Later in the day, supporters of Jarkiholi were seen protesting against his resignation, and allegedly vandalised property in Belagavi.
Social Activist Files Complaint Against Minister
Earlier on Tuesday, a social activist filed a police complaint against the state Water Resources Minister.
"I have lodged a complaint with police, demanding a probe into a sex scandal involving Karnataka minister Ramesh Jarkiholi," the activist, Dinesh Kallahalli, was quoted as saying. The police had said that a complaint has been filed against Jarkiholi and they will investigate accordingly.
"We have taken a petition and started an inquiry. We need to ascertain certain details and enquire about the victim first. The RTI activist has not given any information regarding them. We are trying to ascertain who they are and are trying to contact them," MN Anunchet, Bengaluru Central DCP, told The News Minute. The report quoted the police as saying that the complainant has not revealed the identity of the woman in the CD or the source of the video.
Kallahalli, in his complaint, stated that Jarkiholi allegedly sought sexual favours from the woman in return of a promise of a government job. The woman had approached Kallihalli after the BJP minister allegedly threatened her, reported TNM.
Meanwhile, the minister had earlier termed the video fake. "I don't even know that lady and the complainant. I was in Mysuru. I'll be meeting high command to give my clarification about the alleged video. I'll quit politics and ministerial charge if the allegation is proved," he had been quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
On the other hand, Karnataka Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan had said, “We have seen treachery, vendetta, honey trap, blackmailing as the motive behind such videos. The truth will come out after an investigation.”
Jarkiholi is among those who had defected from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) alliance in 2019, leading to the fall of the HD Kumaraswamy-led government in Karnataka.
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