Sex clip ‘conspiracy’ was hatched in Bengaluru; I know who is behind it: Ramesh Jarkiholi

News Network
March 9, 2021

Bengaluru, Mar 9: Scandal-hit BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi on Tuesday said that he knew about the sex tape four months ago, and said that the "conspiracy" against him was hatched in Bengaluru.

Claiming the tape to be fake, Jarkiholi further hinted that he knows the person who is behind the "conspiracy".

He resigned as the water resources minister last week after news channels aired a video allegedly showing him getting intimate with an unidentified woman, which became a sensational scandal. A police complaint was filed accusing him of sexually exploiting the woman. 

In a twist, however, social activist Dinesh Kallahalli, who had filed the complaint, later decided to withdraw it. 

"This (sex) CD is 100% fake. There’s no truth," a teary-eyed Jarkiholi said as he sought the support of mediapersons during a press conference.

"I got to know about the CD four months ago. I was asked about it then and I said I had no idea. I didn't act because it was not the truth," he said. "I got a call from a well-wisher 26 hours before the tape went public. I was warned. Still, I was undeterred because I have not done anything wrong," he said, adding that the scandal has hurt him a great deal.

He said "one great leader" was behind the conspiracy against him. "I'm not at liberty to say much. But I will say that this conspiracy was hatched in two places in Bengaluru - on the fourth floor of Yeshwanthpur police station and on the fifth floor of somewhere near Orion Mall," he said. 

The Belagavi strongman vowed to "put in jail" those responsible for the scandal. 

The unidentified woman seen in the video has been paid a huge sum, Ramesh claimed. "The information I have is that she got Rs 5 crore and two flats overseas. This isn't confirmed. All this should come (in the inquiry)," he said. 

Jarkiholi thanked his wife, children, brothers, well-wishers, relatives, constituents and the people of Karnataka for "standing" by him. He also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and thanked JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy. "It was Kumaraswamy and (his brother) HD Revanna who spoke with me first," he said. 

Jarkiholi, who represents Gokak, was among the chief architects in causing the downfall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition, paving the way for the BJP to come to power. He was earlier with the Congress.

"I resigned on my own accord, not because someone asked me to. I didn't want to cause embarrassment to my party," he said. "I’m not interested in politics. My family is more important to me."
 

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News Network
November 22,2025

Mangaluru: Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H has warned of strict action against individuals spreading rumours and attempting to create insecurity within the Muslim community and fuel hatred between Hindus and Muslims through social media.

Referring to a recent social media post alleging that police personnel had entered a masjid premises to check whether beef was being cooked, the commissioner said miscreants were attempting to push their communal agenda. 

“A group of people, both from Mangaluru and abroad, are trying hard to spread rumours. For the past 10 days, they have been attempting to rake up old issues, highlight routine matters as controversies, or fabricate news altogether,” he said.

He reiterated that any such attempts to disturb communal harmony would invite legal action. “Cases will be registered and the accused will be brought to book,” he stated.

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News Network
November 26,2025

students.jpg

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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