A day after a case was registered against him for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, Ramesh Jarkiholi tendered resignation from his post.
A day after a case was registered against him for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, Karnataka Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi on Wednesday tendered resignation from his post.
Jarkiholi's resignation has been accepted by Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and it has been sent to Governor Vajubhai Vala for approval.
The development comes a day after purported video clips showing Karnataka's Major and Medium Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi getting intimate with an unidentified woman, were widely aired by Kannada news channels.
"The allegation made on me is far from the truth. An investigation must be done on this issue. As fair investigation should take place, I am resigning on moral grounds. I request you to accept my resignation," Jarkiholi said in the letter to the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.
Karnataka Minister Jagadish Shettar said, "He (Ramesh Jarkiholi) has resigned. Nobody has given any statement or complaint. We have to make a decision."
A case was registered against Jarkiholi on Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman. Dinesh Kallahalli, a social activist on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Ramesh alleging sexual harassment to a job aspirant and threatening her and family of dire consequences.
Addressing reporters, the complainant Kallahalli said, "I have lodged a complaint with police, demanding a probe into a sex scandal involving Ramesh Jarkiholi."
Denying the allegations, Jarkiholi had said that he will resign from politics if these allegations are proven true. Speaking to reporters, the minister said, "I do not even know the woman and the complainant. I am going to meet my high command to convey a clarification about the alleged video. I was in Mysuru and I went to Chamundeshwari Temple. I do not even know about the video because I never spoke to that woman. I will resign from my MLA post and politics if these allegations are proven against me."
Ramesh Jarkiholi, an MLA from Gokak, who was earlier with Congress, was among the chief architects in causing the downfall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government that eventually paved the way for the BJP to come to power.
(With agency inputs)
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