The former minister was charged for raping his friend's wife last May

After 10 months of investigations, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday filed a chargesheet against Former Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Hartalu Halappa charging him for raping his friend's wife Chandravathi.

A team of CID officials, along with the public prosecutor, filed the chargesheet before 2nd Additional Judicial Magistrate.


On Record: Former Minister Hartalu Halappa was video recorded while
he allegedly committed the crime. File pic

The officials, however, refused to comment on details of the chargesheet citing confidentiality.
Halappa was a close friend of Venkateshmurthy and used to visit his house often. He was arrested for allegedly raping his friend's wife in May last year and was even video recorded during the attack.

Based on a complaint filed by Venkateshmurthy, the Shimoga police registered a case against Halappa,
accusing him of trespassing, rape and posing a threat to life.

Even Chandravathi had lodged a complaint against Halappa in the presence of Ajay Kumar Singh, the then Director General of Police in accordance to Section 378 Indian Penal Code, which levies charges of rape against the former minister.

Halappa submitted his resignation to Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa after the incident, but alleged that
the episode was a conspiracy to defame him and his party. Yeddyurappa had ordered a CID probe into the case following a demand by the opposition party.