Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi on Wednesday resigned from his post after a CD allegedly showing him seeking sexual favours from a woman surfaced.
ANI's tweet read: "Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi tenders resignation from his post in the wake of his alleged involvement in a sex tape case. His letter to CM reads, 'Allegation against me is far from truth. As fair investigation should take place, I'm resigning on moral grounds."
The video (CD) was submitted to the media by social activist Dinesh Kalahalli, who alleged that the woman in the video clips was enticed by Ramesh with a government job offer.
The activist said the family of the woman had approached him seeking justice recently following which he lodged a sexual harassment case with Cubbon Park police.
Earlier the Minister said, "I will not allow this charge to stick on me. I have spoken with the Chief Minister and demanded that he should order a high level investigate to expose those who are behind this."
The Minister comes from one of the most powerful political families in Karnataka and is a sugar baron from Belagavi district.
Ramesh is one of the 17 defectors from the Congress and the JD(S) whose defection resulted in the fall of the Congress-JD(S) era in the state two years back, leading to the construction of the BJP in the state. He was one of the primary forces behind rallying 17 MLAs from both parties before they joined the BJP.
