Karnataka minister quits over sexual assault allegations

BANGALORE - Karnataka’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haratalu Halappa resigned Sunday following a newspaper report that he had tried to sexually assault his friend’s wife in his home district of Shimoga.

“I have resigned. I have sent the resignation letter to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa,” Halappa told reporters.

He, however, denied that he had tried to sexually assault any woman. “It is a conspiracy against me. The truth will come out after a probe,” he said.

Halappa said he suspected the hand of legislators of his own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind the allegation. He refused to take any names.

The report in a leading Kannada daily said Halappa had invited himself to a friend’s house in Shimoga, about 270 km from here, for dinner after which he complained of chest pain and sent his friend out to get medicines.

When the friend returned he was shocked to see a half-naked Halappa while the wife was crying. The wife told him that Halappa had attempted to assault her, following which the friend thrashed Halappa.

The report did not mention when the incident happened.