Karnataka sex CD scandal: SIT serves notice to involved woman
The Karnataka Government-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating the sex CD scandal involving the state's former Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, intensified search for a woman who purportedly features in the video and two suspects, too. A notice was issued to the woman by the SIT, which also assured her police protection as requested in a video she released earlier. Here's more.
Woman released video seeking protection from the government
Earlier on Saturday, the woman allegedly released a video statement requesting the government to provide protection. Addressing Karnataka's Home Minister, Basavaraj Bommai, she said that she lost her dignity after the sex clip came out, adding she doesn't know how the video was shot and circulated. She also said she and her parents tried to kill themselves several times after the video became public.
'All that I ask you is give me protection'
"I don't have any protection. All that I ask you is give me protection," the woman said in the video message. "I lost my dignity after the video became public. People are coming to our house inquiring about me. My parents tried to commit suicide twice and I too attempted suicide at least three to four times," she added.
Jarkiholi promised me a job and did everything: Woman
"No one is helping us and we don't have any political support. Jarkiholi promised me a job and did everything and released the video," the woman said, blaming him for circulating the video. The controversy was dubbed by some local media houses as a "sex for job" scandal involving Jarkiholi, who was accused of exploiting her on the pretext of providing employment and threatening her.
Woman's video came hours after Jarkiholi lodged a complaint
Notably, the woman's video statement came just hours after Jarkiholi filed a complaint at Sadashivanagar Police station in Bengaluru on Saturday, accusing some unidentified people of forgery, extortion, and criminal conspiracy. In his complaint, he claimed that the alleged sex CD was fake and that the whole thing was just an attempt by the miscreants to blackmail him using the video.
We have started the legal battle, says Jarkiholi
"It is a bogus CD that has been used to blackmail. This affects not just me but all those who could be blackmailed. We have started the legal battle," Jarkiholi said after lodging the police complaint. He filed the complaint three days after the SIT was formed to probe the allegations made by him, claiming it was a conspiracy hatched to defame him.
'Ready to provide the woman all help if she approaches'
Meanwhile, R Pramila Naidu, Chairperson of the State Women's Commission, told The Indian Express that they have directed the state and city chiefs to provide protection to the woman since she alleged a threat to her life in the video. "We are ready to provide the woman all help if she approaches us, even police assured of protection," Naidu added.
