Karnataka: BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi, who resigned as a minister in Karnataka two years ago over a sex scandal, has accused Congress state president D.K. Shivakumar of being involved in a conspiracy to discredit him.

Jarkiholi, who held the Water Resources portfolio, demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the people behind the scandal.

The woman at the center of the controversy claimed that Jarkiholi exploited her with the promise of a government job, a claim Jarkiholi denies.

On Monday, Jarkiholi called for the woman’s arrest and her accomplices, including two people from Mandya, to uncover the truth.

He also accused Shivakumar of trying to ruin his personal life.

Jarkiholi claimed to have evidence that Shivakumar was behind the scandal, saying there are several sleaze videos of politicians and top bureaucrats in the state that are being used for blackmail.

He called on the state government to hand over the case to the CBI and promised to provide audio/video files and evidence of illegal money transactions if the case was transferred.

Shivakumar was not available for comment, and Congress has not responded to Jarkiholi’s allegations.