Ramesh Jarkiholi sex scandal: Karnataka High Court dismisses plea by father of victim challenging her statement given under Section 164 CrPC

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the father of the victim in the Ramesh Jarkiholi CD scandal alleging that his daughter’s statement was recorded “under pressure, influence, and coercion” and against her free will..Justice S Vishwajith Shetty dismissed the plea while accepting arguments made on behalf of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. Counsel for the SIT had contended that the woman had already made a statement before a Division Bench last month stating that she was in a safe place and was not under anyone’s control..The instant petition had challenged the statement of the complainant under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)..The special prosecutor for SIT, P Prasanna contended that the victim had stated before the magistrate that she had recorded her statement without any coercion. It was further argued that the evidentiary value of her statement recorded under Section 164 CrPC could be examined during the trial of the case.This apart, SIT had submitted that the woman’s father had no locus standi to challenge her statement, which was recorded voluntarily..The father of the victim had sought a direction to quash the statement of his daughter, claiming that upon inquiry, he found that at the time of recording of the statement, General Secretary of the legal cell of the Congress Party Suryamukund Raj was present..Thus, the recording of the statement of his daughter was contrary to the mandate of law, he argued..Previously, the High Court had declined to pass any order in the Habeas Corpus petition filed by the father of the victim in the alleged sex CD case involving former Karnataka minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, noting that the victim was a major and capable of making her own decisions..In this petition, the father of the victim had approached the High Court claiming that his daughter had been unlawfully detained at an undisclosed location and that he has reasons to doubt the complicity of the SIT..Jarkiholi, a former minister in the BJP State government had to tender his resignation after being accused of demanding sexual favours from the unidentified woman in exchange for giving her a job..A CD containing footage of the alleged incident was leaked to the media. This prompted the Minister to file a complaint against unknown persons, accusing them of framing him. The State government responded by constituting an SIT to look into the minister's complaint..[Ramesh Jarkiholi Sex Tape] "She is a major, Court does not have much say:" Karnataka HC disposes of Habeas plea after WhatsApp call with victim