A look back at explosive 'sex scandals' that rocked Karnataka

Ramesh Jarkiholi resigned as water resources minister amid allegations of soliciting sexual favours. A social activist had filed a police complaint, alleging exploitation over promise of a job at KPTCL. While a video CD purportedly depicted Jarkiholi with the survivor, police have yet to verify its authenticity. Jarkiholi, a Congress defector to the BJP, had played a pivotal role in toppling the JD(S)- Congress coalition in 2019.

A purported sex tape rocked the Karnataka assembly, allegedly featuring Arvind Limbavali, the then BJP MLA from Mahadevapura, caught in a compromising position with another man. Limbavali, denying the authenticity of the clip, tearfully claimed victimisation and urged the then chief minister BS Yediyurappa to order an investigation. Five months later, the Forensic Sciences Laboratory confirmed the tape as fake.

Former excise minister Meti faced allegations when a compromising video surfaced, leading the then chief minister Siddaramaiah to ask Meti to resign. Allegedly, Meti had solicited sexual favours from a woman in exchange for a transfer of job. The case was transferred to the state CID after the woman in the video filed a police complaint. Five months later, the woman retracted her allegations, prompting the CID to let Meti go off the hook.

BJP MLAs and ministers Laxman Savadi, CC Patil, and Krishna Palemar were caught in the eye of a major scandal when they were accused of watching pornography in the Karnataka assembly. A state home department probe eventually gave Savadi the clean chit.

BJP minister of food and civil supplies, Hartalu Halappa, faced rape charges involving his friend’s wife, leading to his resignation. However, he was acquitted in 2017 due to insufficient evidence, according to the court. Additionally, Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat resigned after a sex tape leak.

A sex scandal allegedly involving Honnali MLA Renukacharya shook the then BJP-JD(S) coalition govt. A nurse accused the minister of sexual harassment, releasing photos of them kissing and claiming he coerced her into marriage, leading her to contemplate suicide. Three years later, the nurse withdrew the case.