Bengaluru: Karnataka excise minister H Y Meti has resigned after a CD purportedly showing him in a compromising position surfaced.
An RTI activist from Ballari, Rajashekhar Molali, had claimed a few days back that he was in possession of a video CD in which Meti (71), is purportedly seen seeking sexual favours from a woman inside a taluk panchayat office.
Molali had threatened to release the CD if no action was taken against the minister.
The RTI activist had given a written complaint that a certain person named Subhash who claimed to be close to the minister had even threatened him not to release the CD.
He further alleged that under pressure, Ballari police did not register an FIR of his complaint.
Though the allegations were denied by the minister, a woman gave an interview to a local regional channel in which she claimed that she was sexually harassed by Meti. There were contradictory claims on whether she was the woman in the CD.
"He resigned on his own, I didn't ask for his resignation. I have ordered a probe," Chief minister Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah and home minister G Parameshwara had both said earlier that Meti should resign if there was any such video. Molali had sought a meeting with Parameshwara on Monday.
Meti, who belongs to the same caste (Kuruba) as the chief minister, is the seniormost minister to quit from the Karnataka cabinet.
Earlier, education minister Tanvir Sait was allegedly caught surfing porn during Tippu Jayanthi festival for which BJP had strongly demanded his resignation.
Meti is from Bagalkot district of Karnataka. A farmer, he has been forest minister in 1994 and has also been MSIL chairman.
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