We are clean, says Karnataka BJP leader Byrathi Basavaraj amid claims of Jarkiholi-like CDs by activists

Karnataka Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj on Saturday said that there are political conspiracies against six ministers to malign them. "Accordingly, we moved to court, seeking an injunction against newspapers and TV channels from publishing anything defamatory against us," he said.

The ministers approaching the court comes days after a video allegedly showing the intimate moments of Ramesh Jarkiholi with a woman was leaked to the media, thus forcing him to resign as a minister amid speculations and claims by a few activists of more such incriminating CDs.

“We are clean. Nothing had happened in Mumbai. If they have any documents or proof, let them release it,” he told media persons at Mangalore International Airport, on way to Kukke Subrahmanya Temple on Saturday.

“We all are discharging our duties by becoming part of the government. The Opposition is targeting us. We approached the court for our safety. There is nothing that prevents us from approaching the court. We are being targeted as we had joined the BJP from Congress. To ensure that nothing happens to us, we had approached the court. Those who are levelling allegations should come out with the documents,” said the Minister.

The six ministers are among the 17 MLAs of the previous JD(S)-Congress coalition government, who rebelled and submitted their resignations.

After they were disqualified by the Legislative Assembly Speaker under the anti-defection law. Later, they joined the BJP and won the elections in 2019 and were inducted into the Cabinet.