Complaint lodged with SP four months ago

Srikantha has been transferred from the district now and was not available for comment. The man who has shaken up State politics by charging Haratal Halappa of raping his wife is no saint either. He had married another woman earlier in his home town of Tirthalli and police have confirmed that he was involved in many cheque bounce cases.

The person who claims to be H Halappa’s friend hails from Arnahalli village of Tirthahalli taluk and was residing in Vinobha Nagar-Kallahalli area of the city. He was into money lending business which landed him in several disputes including those related to cheque bounce cases.  

A relative of Halappa and victim’s husband were partners in the money lending business. Halappa used to visit victim’s house frequently. The house in Vinobha Nagar-Kallahalli area of the city where H Halappa is said to have sexually assaulted his friend’s wife was found locked on Sunday. The alleged victim’s husband remained elusive.

When mediapersons contacted him on telephone, he denied having any relationship with Halappa.  He threatened to file defamation case against mediapersons if the pictures of his family members or even his house were published.  He said he was in Mangalore and would brief the mediapersons over the incident in Shimoga in a day or two.

If proved, he can get up to 15 years

Disgraced politician Hartal Halappa can be booked under two Sections of the IPC - Section 354 amounting for outraging the modesty of a woman and Section 376 (read with 511) which deals with attempt to rape, according to a retired senior police officer.

If the offence is proved under Section 354, the convict can be sentenced to simple imprisonment ranging betweeen six months and two years. Section 376, however, envisages rigorous imprisonment upto seven years. The punishment period may go up to 15 years as Halappa’s case will be given “special” consideration since he was a minister when the incident took place.