Karnataka Excise Minister HY Meti resigned from his Cabinet post on Wednesday following allegations that he had featured in a sex tape. He is definitely not the first politician from Karnataka to have been embroiled in a sex controversy. There have been instances when MLAs have been caught on camera watching pornography while within the Assembly.
The allegations surfaced on Monday when RTI activist Rajashekar Mulali confirmed the existence of a CD containing Meti's alleged indecent act with a woman who had approached him to ask for a favour. The development reportedly angered Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who asked Meti to tender his resignation.
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Meti did just that on Wednesday, and Siddaramaiah was prompt in accepting his resignation. After tendering his resignation, Meti told reporters: "I am resigning so that the government doesn't face any problem. I have done nothing wrong. Let the enquiry commence."
Siddaramaiah seemed to echo similar sentiments on Wednesday when he said: "He [Meti] has denied the allegations. However, he has resigned. An investigation will be done [into the incident]."
The New Indian Express said in a report that Siddaramaiah, "who discussed the issue with the police top brass on Monday, is said to have asked the state intelligence to dig deep into the alleged scam and report to him whether such a CD really exists."
"I will react after any such CD is released. Meti will not be allowed to continue as a minister if such a CD is released. I will not tolerate such shameful conduct as it goes against my own ethical values too," the chief minister was quoted as saying in the report.
The New Indian Express report also quoted Bellari Superintendent of Police Chethan R as saying: "In this case, which is a non-cognisable offence, the FIR has to be registered with the permission from court. As the court is closed today (Monday) on the occasion of Eid Milad, we can approach it only on Tuesday. Six questions have been sent to Mulali with an intention to provide him security, and speed up the investigation. We have provided security around his house."
