In an embarrassment to the ruling Congress Party, Karnataka’s 70-year-old Excise Minister H Y Meti resigned yesterday after a sleaze tape showing him with a woman surfaced and news channels began airing it, an official said.
“Meti called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence here and submitted his resignation letter. It will be sent to the governor soon for acceptance,” an official from the Chief Minister’s Office said.
Siddaramaiah later in a tweet said he had recommended to Governor Vajubhai Vala to accept the minister’s resignation. 
“I have also ordered a probe,” he said.
Walking out of the chief minister’s residence, a defiant Meti however denied indulging in any obscene activity.
He alleged it was a conspiracy to tarnish his image.
“I have resigned but I am innocent. An official investigation will prove my innocence,” Meti told reporters.
Meti is seen in a compromising position with the young woman in the tape, of which around four minutes of footage has been aired so far.
“As the location, when the CD was shot and by whom is not known, the inquiry will bring out the facts,” the official said.
Siddaramaiah said there was no embarrassment to the government, and that Meti’s resignation was not sought for.
When told it was the second incident involving his ministers – earlier Education Minister Tanveer Sait was caught watching sleaze pictures on camera – Siddaramaiah said: “Tanveer Sait was cleared of all charges by the police. His was not a case similar to this. Even in this case, the CD does not mean admission of guilt by Meti. It is only that he has submitted it on moral grounds.”
Meti is a lawmaker of the ruling party from Bagalkot district, about 410km from here, and belongs to the Kurba (shepherd) community. Siddaramaiah also belongs to the same community.
According to party sources, T Rajashekar, a Right to Information activist from Ballari district, about 330km from here, claimed having evidence of Meti seeking sexual favours from a woman who approached him for a government job.
lA 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping his 10-year-old daughter, Gurugram police said yesterday.
The alleged attacker was identified as Neeraj, from a village in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.