BJP insiders say party bosses pressured cops to go slow on former food and civil supplies minister minister, who is accused of rape, so he could oversee party's panchayat poll campaign in Shimoga

CID schedule Halappa's investigation after Panchayat polls

BJP insiders say party bosses pressured cops to go slow on former food and civil supplies minister minister, who is accused of rape, so he could oversee party's panchayat poll campaign in Shimoga

Former food and civil supplies minister minister Haratalu Halappa, who is accused of raping his friend Venkateshmurthy's wife Chandravathi, surrendered, on Sunday, a day after Panchayat polls. BJP insiders say the move was timed after much deliberation.

Power play: According to sources, CID sleuths questioning Chandravathi, the alleged rape victim, and her husband Venkateshmurthy, are believed to be coercing the couple to take a stand that will help Halappa come out clean in the matter. file pics

Bail plea
Halappa had decided to surrender before the CID police probing the case, on 6 May, after they issued a notice against him. Meanwhile, his counsel has filed an application in court seeking anticipatory bail, which comes up for hearing on May 11.

However, senior BJP leaders thought it was a bad idea to allow the arrest to happen before the Panchayat polls on Saturday. Both Halappa as well as the police were reportedly asked to wait till the polls were behind them.
"Contrary to what some thought, Halappa was not in hibernation. In fact, he was in touch with the CID. It was Halappa, after all, who provided the cops with vital information that helped them grill complainant Chandravathi and her husband Venkateshmurthy," said the source.

Halappa was reportedly living at the residence of a BJP leader in Shimoga supervising poll work for the party. He ensured the vote bank was intact in the district and succeeded largely in keeping his flock together.

"His leadership was a critical need of the hour when the district went to the polls. To his credit, the turnout was an overwhelming 70 per cent. Halappa did well," said the source.

Shankara Bhat, Halappa's counsel, said it was ridiculous to suggest Halappa was absconding. "The CID had given him time till Monday. He duly appeared before them a day earlier. It's not a big issue," he said.

No comments
On the delay shown in his arrest, after filing the case based on Chandravathi's complaint, Bhat said it was up to the CID and he had no comments to offer on the subject.

"We wanted to complete the process of obtaining information from the complainant before questioning the accused. We are not favouring him at all," said a CID official.

However, sources revealed that CID sleuths had received instructions from the political bosses to rein in their horses till the polls. Upset by the political intervention, top cop Ajaykumar Singh went on leave. "It was really embarrassing to deviate from the rules, especially when there was intense media glare on the case," said a source in CID.

Sex swami case
"In Swami Nithyananda's case, which has several parallels with the Halappa issue, came before the CID, we moved heaven and earth and got him arrested. Had it not been for the political interference, the accused would have arrested in this case as well. We are not to be blamed."

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