Excuse Meti, he's 71, say colleagues

BENGALURU: Ministers Kagodu Thimmappa and Basavaraj Rayareddi on Monday said excise minister H Y Meti should be given the benefit of doubt in an alleged sex scandal due to his age.
While Thimmappa said RTI applications had become a "threatening" tactic and there are many such activists, Rayareddi said M Rajashekar, who made the allegation, is blackmailing Meti.Local TV channels had on Sunday reported that Meti was reportedly caught on camera with a woman in a compromising position. She had approached Meti with a request for transfer.
"We should respect his age. He is 71 years old and should be given the benefit of doubt. Even the supposed victim has said Meti is like her father. Rajashekar is blackmailing the minister. If there is a CD, let him release it," said Rayareddi.