Victim’s husband threatened to harm his first wife with the help of Halappa and others.
A rape case involving former minister Hartal Halappa turned murkier on Tuesday, after a case of bigamy was filed against the alleged victim’s husband.
The case was filed on a complaint by Sumitra, the first wife of the victim’s husband, Venkatesh Murthy.
According to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, bigamy warrants punishment under sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code.
“Venkatesh Murthy dumped me saying that I had become a stumbling block in his business, since he could not take me to parties. He complained that I was not presentable to his kind of crowd, and the sight of me puts him off,” Sumitra said after lodging the complaint with Murugan, the superintendent of police.
The police was asked to act on Sumitra’s complaint and Venkatesh Murthy would be asked to appear before the sub-inspector at the Thirthahalli station on Thursday. Sumitra said that she had earlier made futile attempts to lodge complaints against her husband.
She added that Venkatesh Murthy had threatened her several times, saying he would bodily harm her with the help of his powerful friends, including Halappa.
Venkatesh Murthy, meanwhile, said Sumitra’s complaint has nothing to do with the case he had lodged against Halappa. “He is trying to fix me in the bigamy case,” he added.
Of the couple’s two children, one has been staying with Venkatesh Murthy, while the other was with her maternal uncle.
Meanwhile, doctors at the McGann hospital, where Halappa has been undergoing treatment, said his allergic bronchitis was getting worse. Doctors advised him against travelling, contrary to his wish to receive medical treatment in Bangalore.
A high-level meeting decided to review the former minister’s health condition on Wednesday, before deciding on further course of action. Doctors and senior police officers attended the meeting.
The criminal investigation department was still hoping that they would get the custody of Halappa.
Leaders of the BJP unit in Shimoga visited Halappa on Tuesday.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}