Political storm in Karnataka after rail min Gowda's son booked for rape
An actress made the allegations before TV channels in Bangalore when Karthik Gowda was getting engaged to another woman at Kushalnagar. She claimed she got married to him in June this year.
The Karnataka government on Thursday said the law would take its own course on the complaint of rape and cheating lodged by an actress against the son of railway minister Sadananda Gowda.
"Law will take its own course," chief minister Siddaramaiah said after a case of rape, breach of trust and cheating was registered against Karthik Gowda in Bangalore on the complaint filed by the woman.
The actress made the allegations before TV channels in Bangalore when Karthik was getting engaged to another woman at Kushalnagar, 300km from the state capital. She claimed she got married to Karthik Gowda on June 5, 2014 after meeting him on May 8, 2014.
Gowda alleges conspiracy
Minister Sadananda Gowda said he suspected "a big conspiracy" behind the issue.
"I feel hurt. My life is an open book. I will not lie or cheat public. This is kind of blackmail," said Gowda.
Denying the allegations, Karthik said, "My father is a respectable man. Why should I spoil it?"
The issue also reached Karnataka Women's Commission, whose chairperson Manjula Manasa said the woman's sister had approached it. "I will talk to the woman and her family. An FIR has been registered. We will write to police department."
Video: My son is being falsely implicated, says Sadananda Gowda
Actress: Karthik married me
The actress alleged she and Karthik got married in June in the presence of Karthik's driver. "I want his (Karthik) family to take me as their daughter-in-law and I will be a good daughter-in-law to them."
On allegations that her photo with Karthik may be morphed, she said, "These are not morphed photos, because they were not taken by me. These were actually taken by his friends, which he sent me."
A case was filed against Karthik Gowda under Section 420 and 376 (charges relating to cheating, rape and dishonesty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Video: Kannada actress claims she is married to Sadananda Gowda's son
BJP: check merits of case
The BJP meanwhile said the guilty should be punished only after checking the merits and demerits of the case.
Party leader Nalin Kohli said, "Whatever are the merits and demerits and the facts they should come out and whosoever is guilty has to be punished, there is no question about it. But at the same time we must be careful before we extend these kind of allegations and matters to other members of the family. That might be a little premature till something is established."
Nationalist Congress Party leader, Tariq Anwar said, "The law will take its course based on the allegations levelled by the model. If it is indeed true then it is a cause of concern and law is equal for everyone."
Congress: BJP doesn't respect women
As the issue snowballed Youth Congress activists staged a protest in Bangalore against Sadanand Gowda and his family demanding justice for the woman.
In Delhi, Congress leader Rashid Alvi termed the incident as "unfortunate".
"The entire country is watching what the ministers are doing. And, if such things happen within their family, then it becomes clear how much respect they give to women in our society," Alvi said.
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