Karnataka
Karnataka minister Ramesh Jarkiholi resigns over sexual harassment charges
Bengaluru/UNI: Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi on Wednesday tendered his resignation after a video showing him in a compromising situation with a woman, surfaced in the media.
"Allegations against me are far from truth and a probe should be constituted soon. Even though I am confident of emerging innocent, I am tendering my resignation from the state Cabinet on moral grounds," excerpts from Jarkiholi's resignation letter to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa read. He pleaded innocence and appealed to order for an inquiry into the charges against him.
Social activist Dinesh Kallahalli had on Tuesday lodged a complaint at Cubbon Park police station against the Minister for sexually harassing a woman and later, the activist released CD's in support of the allegation. Kallahalli, in his complaint, alleged that Jarkiholi lured the woman by promising her a job in Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jarkiholi had initially refused to step down while his brother and BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi met the Chief Minister earlier in the day demanding a CBI or CID probe into the leaked video of the scandal. However, Mr Yeddyurappa asked him to resign from the post to prevent further embarrassment to the government ahead of the upcoming Budget Session that is set to commence from Thursday.
As per latest reports, the Chief Minister has accepted Jarkiholi's resignation. Moreover, according to sources, Mr Yediyurappa has assured of inducting the tainted Minister into the Cabinet again, if he was cleared of all charges.
Party sources also revealed that BJP National General Secretary B L Santosh spoke to Ramesh Jarkiholi and convinced him to resign to avoid embarrassment to the government. It was learnt that the Minister was under immense pressure from government and BJP leaders, who pressed him for the resignation.
Meanwhile, Jarkiholi's supporters staged a protest against his resignation.
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