Rape charge Scalds Halappa - Chandravati Files Complaint
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Bangalore, May 3 (DHNS): Food and Civil Supplies Minister Hartal Halappa on Sunday morning made an ignonimous exit from the Karnataka Ministry following a report that he had sexually abused a woman.
As the report was being flashed in the media in the evening, a homemaker from Shimoga lodged a complaint with the Bangalore police that she was raped by Halappa in November, and sought his arrest.
Earlier in the day, Halappa submitted his resignation to Chief Minister B S Yeddurappa following the newspaper report. The homemaker, Chandravati, and her husband Venkatesh Murthy met Director-General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh on Sunday evening in Bangalore and sought punishment for Halappa. They also met officials at Raj Bhavan seeking the governor’s intervention.
They released copies of a CD to the media which showed Chandravati lying on a cot wearing a night gown and wiping her tears. Later, the footage showed her sobbing and abusing some one with Halappa leaving the room. It has been recorded using a cell phone.
In their 12-page complaint to the police , the couple alleged that Halappa stayed overnight in their house on November 26 in Shimoga, the night when Halappa reportedly sexually abused her. By the time the couple surfaced in Bangalore around 9 pm on Sunday, Halappa had become a former minister. He tendered his resignation to the chief minister around 9 am.
A Kannada daily in its Sunday edition reported that a minister from Shimoga had reportedly raped a married woman. The incident did not come to light as Halappa had threatened the couple of dire consequences if they made it public.
The paper had neither named the minister nor identified the couple. Still, Halappa rushed through his resignation in Bangalore which was accepted by Yeddyurappa who was in Gujarat. Yeddyurappa described Halappa as a “satvik” (pious) man.
According to a Belgaum report, Yeddyurapa said Halappa need not have submitted his resignation as he seemed to have been framed by his political rivals. Yeddyurapa, however, transferred the Food & Civil Supplies portfolio to Transport Minister R Ashok.
Halappa pretended that he was unaware of any such incident till the couple met the police. He had argued that his detractors, including BJP legislator Gopalakrishna Belur, S Bangarappa and his sons, had conspired against him as they were jealous of his political growth. He had dubbed the story a concocted document.
He was in a TV studio to give a live interview when the couple went to meet Ajai Singh in the evening. The moment the channel began airing the shots, Halappa admitted that Murthy is related to him and Chandravati is his (Murthy’s) second wife. “I am paying the price for sleeping in my friend’s house. I know how to get justice.”
The jarring video shots showed Chandravati’s swollen red face and some blood stains on the floor. Her husand was shown talking on a cell phone leaving a question as to who had videographed the incident.
Murthy told reporters that he was not ready to file the complaint till Saturday. Halappa’s henchmen met “my children and threatened that they would finish him. My children cried. That’s the reason why I decided to make it public. I have been receiving threatening calls. I am not sure of getting justice in Shimoga. Hence, I have come here. I wish I’d killed him the same day. Halappa’s money and muscle power can hush up the case. We want him to be punished,” he said.
A sobbing Chandravati said she wanted Halappa to be arrested and punished immediately. Chandravati in her complaint has accused Halappa of acts of rape, wrongful restraint, wrongful containment and criminal intimidation. She said Halappa had dinner in their house and stayed overnight on November 26. He wore her husband’s dhoti and slept in their guest room. Around 3.30 am, he cried for help on the grounds that his blood pressure had increased. He asked Murthy to go the government inspection bungalow and bring medicine.
After her husand left the house, Halappa entered her room and forced himself upon her. Despite her screams, he did not budge. When the act was almost over, her husband arrived at the room to find her crying helplessly and Halappa with his clothes in disarray.
Halappa was then beaten and chased by the couple even as he apologised.
She further complained that Halappa called them repeatedly and offered compensation. Later, he began threatening them by sending rowdies and calling them frequently through various cell phones, she alleged. She said she attempted suicide twice. “At one point, we decided to end life unable to bear the harassment by Halappa,” she added.
The scandal has come as a severe blow to the Yeddyurappa-led government at a time when thousands of BJP workers are contesting gram panchayat elections. The shell-shocked BJP leaders, including the chief minister, made a vain bid to give a clean chit to Halappa. The Opposition Congress lambasted the BJP government. The Congress also demanded the arrest of Halappa, a CBI probe and the resignation of the chief minister.
Charges against me baseless’
May 2, 2010
Former chief minister S Bangarappa has rubbished allegations by Hartal Halappa that his family members had conspired to defame him.
Earlier in the day, Halappa had stated that he suspected the hand of his political rivals behind the conspiracy, but had refused to take any names. However, he later charged that Bangarappa and his family were behind the conspiracy.
Bangarappa refuted the allegations. “I have never stooped down to such level in my 40 years of public life. Halappa is making baseless charges. Why did he not name me earlier in the day. He is now acting on the directions of Yeddyurappa”, he added.
At the same time, Halappa’s one-time friend-turned-political foe, Sagar legislator, Belur Gopalkrishna has also distanced himself from the controversy. “I have nothing to do with it. I came to know about the incident through the media,” he said.
Yeddyurappa bats for 'framed' Halappa
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has expressed solidarity with the beleaguered former minister H Halappa.
"Halappa need not have resigned as a minister since he appears to have been framed by his political rivals," Yeddyurappa told mediapersons in Belgaum on Sunday.
Suspecting a well-hatched conspiracy, the chief minister said a probe will bring out the truth in the accusation. "The government and the party intends an impartial inquiry," he said. However, the chief minister refused to comment on the involvement of a BJP legislator in the episode stating that a final decision will be taken only after a meeting with the party leaders.
‘Insane’
Speaking to mediapersons in Hubli, Yeddyurappa said Opposition leaders demanding his resignation even after Halappa quitting office “have gone insane.” Yeddyurappa said it was for the first time in the history of independent India that a minister has resigned so quickly after some allegations were levelled against him.
Halappa put his papers down to save the government and the party from embarrassment and this would have positive impact on the performance of BJP in Gram Panchayat polls. The Governor has accepted the resignation, he said.
Sex and politics: A day of fast paced developments
Uneasy calm prevailed at the former minister Halappa’s house in Basavehwaranagar in Bangalore on Sunday.
He was surrounded by good number of assistants and supporters throughout the day. But none barring Halappa was in a mood to talk or defend him.
In an interaction with Deccan Herald, the former minister for Food and Civil Supplies had this to say...
DH: Who is this Shimoga friend of yours levelling such serious allegations?
I do not know. Is there anybody? It is a story fabricated by the newspaper as well as some of my political rivals. Why nobody has registered a case so far?
Then why did you rush through the resignation?
I had to resign as otherwise it would have become a major issue for Opposition parties. The campaigning for Gram Panchayat polls is on and my party workers are going from door to door seeking votes in villages. I did not want them to feel embarrassed.
You did not even make an attempt to dispute the charge. Your name is not mentioned in the report.
This morning I read the report. (Mentioned a journalist’s name). I know that some mediapersons have colluded with my political opponents and hatched a plan to defame me.
Though my name is not mentioned it is obvious the report is about me.
Anybody can make out that it is me who is being discussed. The words ‘Aahara’ (food) and ‘Sarabaraju’ (supply) in the report makes it obvious that it is about me.
Being in public life, I can’t be insensitive. Such false allegations cause embarrassment not only for me but for my party as well. It is a sensitive issue.
I had the moral responsibility to quit the office. If I were to continue in office my opponents would have alleged of destruction of evidence. Now that I am out of power, let them conduct an inquiry.
Will you file a case against the newspaper which published the report?
Sure (but he did not sound so). Anyhow, whether somebody gives a complaint against me or whether I lodge a complaint, from tomorrow onwards I will be giving reply to my
opponents.
Name your conspirators.
Who else...Belur Gopalakrishna, Dodda Bangarappa and his sons. Bangarappa is a wounded old lion.
His sons know that they can’t make career in politics.
They were all jealous of me seeing travelling in government vehicle fitted with red beacon light. Let them be happy from today because I am no more a minister.
I have got nothing to lose. I never led a luxurious life as a minister. I stood by Bangarappa when he was facing criminal charges with regard to Panathur case or Classik computer case...
Today, the same person, without knowing the facts, is levelling charges against me. All these years I had respect for him. Along with Yeddyurappa’s portrait, even Bangarappa’s photo adorned the walls of my house. Today I removed Bangarappa’s portrait from my house.
Halappa’s political allegiance kept changing
Forty-nine-year-old Hartal Halappa finds himself at the most challenging point in his political career and personal life. A two-time legislator, Halappa was a surprise entry into the Yeddyurappa Cabinet when the first-ever BJP government was sworn-in in the State in May 2008.
The ministerial berth for Halappa was a recognition from the party for breaking the stonghold of his one-time mentor former chief minister S Bangarappa in Sorab constituency. Halappa had emerged victorious from the constituency which witnessed Bangrappa’s two sons - Kumar and Madhu - contesting against each other. The BJP also felt a ministerial berth for Halappa will also help in mobilising the dominant Idiga votes in the Shimoga belt.
However, it was not long back, that the BJP which today is rallying behind Halappa, had sought Halappa’s expulsion from the legislature. When Bangarappa joined the BJP in 2004, Halappa successfully contested from Hosanagara constituency on a BJP ticket. Bangarappa soon fell out with the BJP and joined the Samajawadi party.
Halappa and another MLA Belur Gopalakrishna identified themselves with SP despite being in the BJP. The BJP petitioned the then Speaker Krishna to disqualify the two legislators. As the May 2008 polls neared, Halappa fell out with Bangarappa and again identified himself with the BJP. The sudden rise in status and political domination resulted in Halappa making enemies. His one time friend Gopalakrishna became his bete noire. A BCom graduate, Halappa has a son and a daughter. His wife Yashodha, a home-maker, is Bangarappa’s sister-in-law’s daughter. He is into liquor business.
Complaint lodged with SP four months ago
The husband of the woman alleged to have been raped by disgraced ex-minister H Halappa had filed a complaint with Additional Superintendent of Police K Srikantha four months ago.
Srikantha has been transferred from the district now and was not available for comment. The man who has shaken up State politics by charging Haratal Halappa of raping his wife is no saint either. He had married another woman earlier in his home town of Tirthalli and police have confirmed that he was involved in many cheque bounce cases.
The person who claims to be H Halappa’s friend hails from Arnahalli village of Tirthahalli taluk and was residing in Vinobha Nagar-Kallahalli area of the city. He was into money lending business which landed him in several disputes including those related to cheque bounce cases.
A relative of Halappa and victim’s husband were partners in the money lending business. Halappa used to visit victim’s house frequently. The house in Vinobha Nagar-Kallahalli area of the city where H Halappa is said to have sexually assaulted his friend’s wife was found locked on Sunday. The alleged victim’s husband remained elusive.
When mediapersons contacted him on telephone, he denied having any relationship with Halappa. He threatened to file defamation case against mediapersons if the pictures of his family members or even his house were published. He said he was in Mangalore and would brief the mediapersons over the incident in Shimoga in a day or two.
If proved, he can get up to 15 years
Disgraced politician Hartal Halappa can be booked under two Sections of the IPC - Section 354 amounting for outraging the modesty of a woman and Section 376 (read with 511) which deals with attempt to rape, according to a retired senior police officer.
If the offence is proved under Section 354, the convict can be sentenced to simple imprisonment ranging betweeen six months and two years. Section 376, however, envisages rigorous imprisonment upto seven years. The punishment period may go up to 15 years as Halappa’s case will be given “special” consideration since he was a minister when the incident took place.
2 years, 5 resignations in BJP govt
Allegations of sexual abuse are not new to the two-year-old Yeddyurappa government in the State.
BJP legislator M P Renukacharya was in the dock as Jayalakshmi, a nurse, had levelled abuse charges against the MLA. Jayalakshmi had filed cases accusing the legislator of harassing her. However, Renukacharya was made a minister after he led a rebellion against chief minister Yeddyurappa, with a section of party legislators.
Jayalakshmi and Renukacharya have now reached a compromise and pending cases are yet to be withdrawn. It is not the first time that Karnataka is witnessing a minister quitting Cabinet on allegations of sexual assault. During the tenure of Devaraj Urs as chief minister, his Cabinet colleague R D Kittur had to put in papers following complaints about the presence of a ‘mysterious woman’ in his residence.
Vacancies
With Halappa’s resignation, the number of vacancies in the Yeddyurappa’s Cabinet has now risen to two. K S Eshwarappa resigned as Energy Minister to take over as the state BJP president.
In all, Yeddyrappa as chief minister has so far received five resignations from his Cabinet colleagues. S K Bellubbi was the first to quit the Cabinet followed by Krishnaiah Setty, V Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje. But Halappa is the first minister to quit on sexual abuse charges.
Rumour rife with ‘other victims’
Rumours of disgraced politician H Halappa’s involvement in series of sexual misadventures are doing rounds in Malnad region.
It is said that wife of a financier is not the lone victim of his misadventures.
Similar charges levelled against Halappa when he was elected as MLA from Hosanagar constituency, were buried due to lack of evidence. It is said that many cases were resolved amicably at village level itself and some were settled by compensating the victims.
As an MLA, Halappa faced charges of sexually abusing a teacher serving in Ayanur. Reports say that poverty and Halappa’s clout forced the teacher’s family to agree to an out of court settlement.
Halappa, the dark horse who rose in politics after defeating Bangarappa’s sons in the last Assembly polls is known for his opportunism. He used to oppose the Dandavathi project when he was in Bangarappa’s camp, but is supporting it now.