A 'sleaze CD', allegedly of Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi with an unidentified woman, has created a political storm in the state.
While the minister has gone incommunicado, the BJP is facing a huge embarrassment owing to the CD that has a two-hour-long recording of the minister's private moments with the woman, at Karnataka Bhavan, Delhi. Protests were held in Bengaluru and Shivamogga, demanding resignation of the minister.
A police complainant was filed by social activist Dinesh Kallahalli in the Cubbon Park police station, on Tuesday, alleging sexual harassment and intimidation of a woman by the minister. "The woman's family approached me for help. I am unable to reveal the identity of the victim as the family is still hesitant to file a complaint. But I decided to lodge a complaint as it is a serious matter," said Kallahalli.
According to the complainant, the victim is a woman hailing from north Karnataka. "The woman had approached the minister for making a documentary on dams. But the minister promised her a government job in Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and sexually exploited her. The family now fears for their life as the minister is threatening them," said Kallahalli.
The CD recordings suggest that the woman had asked the minister if she could record the "moments" and the minister is seen nodding in agreement. However, it is not clear when the incident took place.
"The complainant has given a representation saying the family of the aggrieved woman has contacted him. We will follow the due procedure. We will inquire into the complaint once we get to know further details from the family. We will file an FIR only after taking the statement from the aggrieved woman," said DCP (Bengaluru central) Anucheth.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi a probe will be held. "We will not jump to any conclusion and will thoroughly probe into the incident. The BJP places high value to morality especially in public life. We will not compromise on it. I will discuss it with the party president and the chief minister."
Speaking to a private TV channel on Tuesday night, Jarkiholi said, "I am shocked by this CD. I urge the CM to initiate a thorough probe. This is a very serious allegation. I have got elected as an MLA for 21 years and so much allegations were made against me. If the allegations are proven, I will resign as MLA. Our Jarkiholi family is a reputed one. I have done nothing wrong, and I will not step down as minister."
Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi is one of the 14 Congress rebel MLAs, whose resignation en masse (Operation Kamala) had lead to the collapse of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in July 2019, paving the way for the formation of a BJP government in the state. Jarkiiholi had got re'Sleeelected on a BJP ticket and was inducted into the Yediyurappa cabinet.