Minister says he’s innocent but resigning on moral grounds
BENGALURU:
In a jolt to the ruling BJP in Karnataka, Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholli tendered his resignation on Wednesday afternoon. The development comes after Jarkiholli was featured in a sex video that was aired by Kannada TV channels on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Minister said, “The allegations are far from the truth. Till the allegations are cleared, I resign from the post. I believe I am innocent but I resign on moral grounds.”
Speculation was rife in political circles that Jarkiholli would resign immediately after the was telecast, but the Minister initially put on a brave front before the media and, among other things, denied any knowledge of the girl in the video and called the video a fake.
Party ‘signal’
Sources in the BJP said senior party leaders got into a huddle soon after the video was telecast and conveyed to Jarkiholli that he should tender his resignation to the Chief Minister.
On Wednesday morning, Jarkiholli’s younger brother Balachandra Jarkiholli met the Chief Minister and demanded an enquiry by the CBI or the COD. Balachandra had also threatened to file a defamation case of Rs 100 crore against the person who leaked the tape to the TV media houses.
ಸಚಿವ ಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ರಮೇಶ್ ಜಾರಕಿಹೊಳಿ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆhttps://t.co/8d4jr9rwG9#ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು #Bangalore #Bengaluru #Karnataka #KarnatakaMinister #RameshJarkiholi @RameshJarkiholi #SexScandal #SexTape
— Thebengalurulive/ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಲೈವ್ (@bengalurulive_) March 3, 2021
‘Job offer to woman’
The CD was released to the media by social activist Dinesh Kalahalli, who alleged that the woman in the video was enticed by the minister with the offer of a government job at Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited.
The activist claimed the family of the woman had approached him seeking justice earlier this week, following which he lodged a sexual harassment complaint with the Cubbon Park police.
In the sex tape, the Water Resources minister can be heard saying, “Siddaramaiah is good…Yediyurappa has done too much corruption…Pralhad Joshi will be CM.”
Also Read: Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi ‘features’ in sex tape https://thebengalurulive.com/minister-ramesh-jarkiholi-features-in-sex-tape/
Also Read: Hang me if I am involved (in sex tape), says Minister Jarkiholli https://thebengalurulive.com/hang-me-if-i-am-involved-in-sex-tape-says-minister-jarkiholli/
Also Read: Minister’s brother seeks CBI inquiry into sexual harassment charge, calls CD ”fake” https://thebengalurulive.com/ministers-brother-seeks-cbi-inquiry-into-sexual-harassment-charge-calls-cd-fake/
Also Read: Police inquring based on complaint: Bommai on sexual harassment charge against Minister https://thebengalurulive.com/police-inquring-based-on-complaint-bommai-on-sexual-harassment-charge-against-minister/
