BENGALURU: DK Shivakumar found himself in the middle of the sex CD row on Saturday as the family of the woman in the purported video involving former minister
Ramesh Jarkiholi
accused the state Congress president of taking advantage of the controversy for political gains.
Speaking to media persons after giving their statement to the
Special Investigation Team (SIT), the father of the woman, an ex-serviceman, and her two brothers alleged that Shivakumar had "used" the situation to his benefit.
The developments come as an embarrassment to the Congress, which has been campaigning vociferously, demanding Ramesh Jarkiholi's arrest and a high court-monitored probe into the scandal.
"It is Shivakumar who released the CD. He is the mastermind," one of the woman's brothers alleged, saying he had sent her to Goa. "We just want our daughter back," her father said.
Role of ‘mahanayaka’ behind scandal has come out: JarkiholiWe have an audio clipping of a phone call with my sister and the same has been shared with SIT officials. My sister told me that she is at Shivakumar’s house and he is sending her to Goa safely. Making such videos, supporting a woman to take political revenge is not the right thing,” the brother said.
Her father added, “Using a scheduled tribe woman for his (DKS) political gain is dirty politics. We don’t expect anything.”
An hour later, the woman released yet another audio recording in which she accused Ramesh Jarkiholi of threatening and blackmailing her parents into issuing statements against Shivakumar. “They don’t know what has happened to me. They are being blackmailed. They were tutored to tell media what they said. I am scared to come out,” she said in the clip, requesting CM BS Yediyurappa, opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to help her record her statement before a judge.
Earlier, Ramesh Jarkiholi said Shivakumar is the “producer’’ of the CD. He said the role of the “mahanayaka” behind the scandal has finally come out in the open. “I have 11 pieces of evidence about his involvement. I will file a police case against him. He has used an innocent woman to play politics. The statement of the parents have vindicated my stand. Shivakumar is unfit to be in politics,” he added.
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