Rape case against Halappa has holes, says BJP
May 3, 2010, Bangalore
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday ordered a CID inquiry into
the rape charges lodged by a woman against Harathalu Halappa, who quit as the
Minister of Food and Civil Supplies following a media report on the alleged
incident.
"I have decided now to order a CID inquiry. Let the truth come out. Whoever is
guilty should get punishment," he told reporters in Bangalore.
The CM said the Opposition was "harping" on Halappa who had resigned even before
the charges against him were proved. Congress is demanding Halappa's arrest and
a CBI probe into the charge.
Yeddyurappa accused them of trying to give a "new form" to the issue and
resorting to "political revenge".
Asked if the alleged incident would hurt BJP's prospects in the Panchayat
elections slated for May 8 and 12, the CM said, "People are wise and they know
what is right and what is wrong. Why was this brought out just before Panchayat
elections?" he asked.
The alleged sexual assault took place in the last week of November.
Halappa quit on Sunday after a leading Kannada daily published a front-page
report alleging he sexually assaulted his friend's wife.(Read:
Karnataka minister resigns over rape charges)
After Halappa's exit, the woman and her husband from Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa's home district Shimoga lodged a complaint of rape and criminal
intimidation against him with DGP Ajai Kumar Singh.
Halappa has rubbished the media report, dubbing it "baseless and untrue".
Meanwhile, state BJP President K S Eshwarappa said the allegation against
Halappa was a "conspiracy".
"Will any man with pride take video when his wife was being sexually assaulted",
Eshwarappa asked, referring to the footage that the woman's husband, Venkatesh
Murthy, claimed he shot during the alleged incident, also aired by some TV
channels on Sunday night.
Eshwarappa claimed that when he had met Murthy about one-and-half months back,
the latter had said that BJP's image would be adversely affected if the issue
was made public.
"I told him there are others to take care of the party. You go and file police
complaint. If they refuse to register, I will arrange it to be registered", he
said.
Courtesy: http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/inquiry-into-rape-charges-against-karnataka-minister-halappa-22796.php