Pramesh S Jain. Yogesh K Porwar
Ramesh Jarkiholi,Minister of Water Resources in the dock as city based activist approached police commissioner seeking detailed probe against minister for cheating a woman promising government job and threatening her dire consequences after she recorded their private movement.
In an major embarrassment to the BS Yediyurappa led BJP government in Karnataka,a social activist released a CD where minister of Major and Medium Irrigation from the Water resources department Ramesh Jarkiholi is seen with a woman in a compromising position.
It is alleged that Ramesh had lured the victim on the pretext of providing a government job.
The Minister had sexually used the woman many times promising government job but later refused.
The victim however had recorded their private moments for which Mr. Ramesh started threatening her with dire consequences.
Fearing their life victim family approached Dinesh Kallahalli who in turn approached the police seeking details.
The Cubbon park police have taken up the probe into alleged sex scandal of Water resource minister Ramesh Jarkiholi who sexually abused a woman promising job and later threatened her with dire consequences after he came to know about the video being recorded .
We have received a petition about alleged incident related to minister and probe the matter to get more details.We will also question the victim who have been allegedly abused and threatened by the minister and to know more about the incident. MN Anucheth,DCP,Central Division,said.
Dinesh Kallahalli,city based RTI activist earlier on Tuesday evening approached city police commissioner and submitted complaint along with the video and audio clips along with the petition.
In his complaint,Mr.Kallahalli said that the victim resident of RT Nagar approached the minister seeking permission to use drone cameras to shoot at a dam for her documentary which she wanted to use it on social media.
Mr.Jarkiholi later assured her to get a job in KPTCL instead of permission and allegedly used her sexually many times kalahalli said.
However the victim realized that she has been cheated and recorded one of the private moment.
Mr.Jarkiholi realized about the video clip and allegedly threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed it to anyone.
considering the gravity of the situation,the family living in fear and approached Kallahalli seeking help.
The Cubbon park police have questioned me about the incident and the relationship with the victim.The police have recorded the statement. The police said that they would conduct a probe and assure to take action, Mr.Kallahalli told media persons.
The Cubbon park police who have taken up a non cognizable report would initiate probe to question the victim and the family members.
The victim has not only recorded video about their private moments but also recorded every meeting and phone conversation,she had with Ramesh Jarkiholi.
The reason behind these records is also part of the probe,a senior police officer said.
Union Minister for Coals and Mines Pralhad Joshi said he was not aware of the fact.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi,he said if a matter like this has surfaced,it must be investigated to find out the truth.He also said he would speak to the Chief Minister in this regard.
Jarkiholi,who was in Mysuru,rushed to the city and met Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.He said he would rush to New Delhi to meet the BJP central leadership.
Denying any wrongdoing,Jarkiholi said this is a big shock and sought an investigation into this. He said it is a 100% fake video.
“I don’t know who Kallahalli is.I don’t know who that woman is.I don’t know anything.I’m in a big shock.Let this be investigated,”Jarkiholi told reporters.If I’m wrong,let them hang me,when asked about resignation he said why should I resign when I am not wrong.
“The Jarkiholi family has built an empire. I’ve been a legislator for 21 years.Why was this done now? It’s a political gimmick,” the minister said. “I’m a dharmic man and I have no need to fear,” he said,adding that he will quit politics if proven wrong.
This comes just two days before the start of the all-important Budget session of the legislature, causing embarrassment to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.
Jarkiholi, who represents Gokak, was among the chief architects in causing the downfall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition, paving the way for the BJP to come to power. He was earlier with the Congress.
The incident could potentially dent Jarkiholi’s political career. His family holds a clout in the politically-significant Belagavi,Karnataka’s largest district.