Bangalore: After hiding for four days, former Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister H Halappa finally appeared, only to be arrested by the CID for allegedly raping his friend's wife.
He has been sent to judicial custody and will be produced before the court on Monday.
Trouble began for Halappa when an article accusing him of rape appeared in a Kannada newspaper. As the report was being flashed in the media, the woman from Shimoga lodged a complaint with the Bangalore police that she was raped by Halappa in November.
Within hours of the newspaper hitting the stands, Halappa took a high moral ground saying he is quitting ministerial post to spare his party from embarrassment and claimed that he has been framed
"I don't know this woman at all. I'll talk to the Chief Minister but this is nothing but a political conspiracy to defame me and the government," said Halappa.
Sensing an opportunity, the main opposition party in the state – the Congress – was quick to raise the tempo. The party demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister for initially defending his disgraced minister.
But this is not the first time a BJP leader has been embroiled in a sex scandal. Another MLA, Renukacharya, was made Excise Minister despite the charges levelled against him.
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