Asia-Pacific

Indian minister quits over rape charge

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-02 16:19

NEW DELHI - A minister in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in the southern Indian state of Karnataka Sunday resigned in the wake of a media report which alleged that he attempted to rape his friend's wife in his home district of Shimoga.

"The allegation is not true. It's a political conspiracy against me. There are one or two of our own people and those of opposition (who conspired against me). I am quitting to spare the party, its members and the government from embarrassment," Karnataka's Food and Civil Supplies Minister H. Halappa told the media.

A report in a leading vernacular daily in the state has alleged in a frontpage story that the minister sexually assaulted his friend's wife and attempted to rape her, but didn't name him except mentioning that he belonged to the Shimoga district.

No charges have been lodged against the minister yet.

Sexual scandal often plays a role in political maneuvers in India.

An 84-year-old governor of the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh resigned several months ago over his sexual misconduct as was shown in video footage by a local TV channel.