Karnataka BJP law-maker in sex CD row, to stay away from May 5 assembly polls

A CD allegedly showing Karnataka BJP law maker Raghupathi Bhat in sexual acts has surfaced, prompting him to announce that he would not contest the May 5 assembly polls in the state.

Bhat, a second-time law-maker from Udupi, about 400km west of Bangalore, however, denied he is the man shown in the CD and sought a probe to establish the truth.

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Pralhad Joshi told reporters here that the party would take action only after it is proved that the man in the CD is Bhat.

Bhat told Kannada TV channels from Udupi that he too had received a copy of the CD only late Wednesday and he suspects a "political conspiracy" against him.

The channels did not telecast the CD on the ground that it was too explicit.

Bhat said his decision to stay away from the assembly poll was intended to avoid embarrassment for his party.

Joshi also said the development would not affect BJP's prospects in the polls.

Bhat, 45, is not new to controversies.

His wife Padmapriya was found dead in an apartment in Dwarka locality in southwest Delhi in July 2008 after remaining missing for five days.

Karnataka Police have termed the death of Padmapriya, who was 32 at that time, as suicide and Bhat's childhood friend Atul Rao has been charged with abetting it. The trial in the case continues.