Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi Resigns Over Alleged Involvement In A Sex Tape; Claims Innocence

Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi tendered resignation from his post in the wake of his alleged involvement in a sex tape case, reports ANI.

The resignation has reportedly been accepted by Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa and sent to Governor for approval.

Jariholi, an MLA from Gokak, was the water resources minister in the BJP-led government in the state. He was earlier a member of the Congress party, and purportedly the chief architect of the downfall of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government, paving the way for the BJP to come to power in Karnataka.

In his letter to the chief minister, Jarkiholi says, "Allegations against me are far from the truth. Clear investigation is needed. I'll come out innocent and I'm confident about it. I'm resigning on moral grounds and I request you to accept this."

A controversy erupted after local Kannada news channels aired the video allegedly showing Jarkiholi getting intimate with an unidentified woman.

Activist Dinesh Kallahalli on Tuesday filed a police complaint against Ramesh Jarkiholi, alleging him of sexual harassment to a "job aspirant" and threatening her and family.

"I have lodged a complaint with police, demanding a probe into a sex scandal involving Ramesh Jarkiholi," he was quoted as saying.

Kallahalli further said that the woman approached him to lodge a complaint that the minister exploited her by offering a job, and did not wish to come out in the open.

In the complaint, he stated that the said woman belonged to a poor family and approached the minister for making a short film. Then, Jarkiholi exploited her sexually by assuring a job in the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited.

He alleged that when the minister got to know that the woman had the 'CD' (objectionable videos), he threatened her and her family.

"Since I am into social activism, they approached me with the complaint and the CD and shared all the details. Please investigate the truth of the matter, file a criminal case against the minister and provide protection to the victim," he stated in the complaint.

Jarkiholi, on the other hand, claims that he is innocent and the videos are “100 per cent fake”. His brother and BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi has sought a CBI probe into the matter and threatened to file a Rs 100 crore suit against those who released the "fake CD".