Karnataka Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs JC Madhuswamy, on Thursday defended Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi over the 2012 controversy in which he was forced to resign as a minister for watching porn on his mobile phone in the Assembly.

"Watching video in Vidhana Soudha is not an accusation of treason. It should morally not be done but it is not a treason. Accidentally watching a video is not a big issue. Everyone speaks something wrong. It cannot be pulled up repeatedly,” Madhuswamy said while speaking to reporters in Tumakuru.

He further added that people should stop criticising him over the issue. "He has not cheated anyone or committed any treason that calls for punishment. There is no point criticising him for the same," he said.

Laxman Savadi, who made news after he was caught watching a pornographic video during an Assembly session in 2012, was appointed as a Deputy Chief Minister despite losing the Assembly elections in 2018. He was also given the portfolio of Transport Minister.  The move to appoint him caused disgruntlement among other BJP leaders.

In February 2012, Laxman was caught inside the Assembly by cameramen working with TV news channels, watching a pornographic video with the then Women and Child Development Minister CC Patil on the mobile handset of Krishna Palemar.  The footage was aired on TV channels and sparked public outrage. Laxman and CC Patil resigned within a week to prevent embarrassment to the ruling BJP. The duo also claimed that they were watching footage of a rave party held in Udupi and not watching a pornographic clip.

Seven years after the incident, both CC Patil and Laxman are in the Karnataka cabinet even though an inquiry was ordered into the 2012 incident.