Ramesh Jarkiholi was questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the sexual assault case registered against him by the woman who was seen with him in a purported video earlier this month. The SIT team served a notice to Ramesh Jarkiholi on Sunday asking him to appear before the investigating police in Adugodi on Monday. He was questioned for over 4 hours during the day.
Around the same time as the first round of questioning by the SIT, advocates representing the victim approached the Karnataka High Court. Advocate Jagadeesh Kumar appearing for the woman reiterated that there was a threat against the woman's life. "If the leader of a national party like Congress (DK Shivakumar) can be attacked with chappals, then what about the complainant? We want the SIT to take up the investigation and arrest the accused," Jagadeesh told mediapersons.
The video of Jarkiholi with the woman was leaked to news channels in the state and it led to Ramesh Jarkiholi's resignation as Water Resources Minister on March 3. But it was not until March 26 that an FIR was registered in the case by the Bengaluru police accusing Ramesh Jarkiholi of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and cheating.
The advocates also appeared in a magistrate court in Bengaluru on Monday morning. "We want to record the complainant's statement under Section 164(5A) (a) of CrPC. The most important thing is she is safe and there is no threat to her," advocate Jagadeesh said.
The woman seen in the video had written to the Karnataka High Court on Monday saying she does not trust the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the leak of the video and has asked the Chief Justice to supervise the probe.
Jarakiholi had to resign as a minister after a CD allegedly containing visuals of sexual acts with the woman surfaced in news channels and social media in the state. Following his resignation, six other ministers secured an interim injunction from a city civil court against media houses telecasting similar reports against them.
Ramesh Jarkiholi, meanwhile has accused Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar of having a role in the controversy and blamed him for the leaked tapes and his resignation. DK Shivakumar brushed aside the allegations and said that he has not met the woman. He however did add that she might have attempted to meet him during his interactions with the public.