This comes amidst speculations and claims by a few activists of more such incriminating CDs being in existence, raising eyebrows.
Seeking injunction orders against the publication of any defamatory content against them, six Karnataka Ministers- all recent defectors from Congress and JD(S) to BJP – have approached the city court. The political development comes in the wake of a video allegedly showing the intimate moments of Ramesh Jarkiholi with a woman was leaked to the media, which forced him to resign as Minister and also amidst speculations and claims by a few activists of more such incriminating CDs in existence, raising eyebrows. Apart from a long list of media houses in the State, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google have also been made parties in the petition filed by ministers.
Among the ministers that approached the court on Friday are Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar, Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, Cooperation Minister S.T. Somashekhar and Youth and Sports Minister K.C. Narayana Gowda.
A “political conspiracy” was underway to carry out a smear campaign against them with false accusations, misusing the media, alleged Dr Sudhakaran. “In Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi’s case, why hasn’t the woman or her family come forward even after three days? With today’s technological advances, anyone can be falsely targeted. If they have a case anyone can go to the courts. But people are indulging in hit-and-run attacks tarnishing our image built by several years of hard work. This is immoral and illegal,” the minister said, defending his application seeking a gag order.
More Ministers were likely to approach courts seeking similar injunctions, he said. He also said that the government was considering promulgating a strong law to prevent such “false and malicious attacks”. “We have discussed it with the Chief Minister and the Law Minister already. This has become a new trend, blackmailing and tarnishing the image of a person in public life with false accusations. This needs to stop.”
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