Sex scandal: Halappa held on rape charges

Shimoga (Karnataka), May 10: Former state Food and Civil Supplies minister Hartal Halappa was arrested on Sunday, May 9, following a rape case filed against him by his friend's wife.

DIG (CID) Charan Reddy told a news agency report that Halappa was grilled for three to four hours after he appeared before the CID follwing a notice served to him by the investigating agency to appear before it on or before May 10.

"We have formally arrested him after interrogating him. Halappa has however denied the allegation," he said.

The former minister refuted all the allegations calling it to be a political conspiracy against him.

"This is nothing but a political conspiracy to defame me and the government," he said.

Shortly after his arrest, Halappa complained of uneasiness and was admitted to a government hospital as per the directions of Sessions Court Judge Srinivasa Gowda, police said.

The CID had issued a notice to Halappa to appear it before it on May 6.

Halappa had resigned following the publication of an article by a newspaper which claimed that the minister had raped his friend, Venkatesh Murthy's wife, Chandravathi, four months ago.

Halappa has filed an anticipatory bail plea before a court in Shimoga. The hearing of the plea is scheduled on May 11.

The former minister is charged with criminal intimidation, wrongful confinement and restraint against Halappa and two of his aides.

OneIndia News