In a political embarrassment for the BJP government in Karnataka, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Hartalu Hallapa has resigned after he was accused of raping a colleague's wife.

The minister has denied the charges, but has put in his papers to avoid more problems for the Yeddyurappa regime.

The Minister dismissed the report carried by a leading Kannada daily, which alleged in a front-page story that he sexually assaulted the wife of one of his friends. The report did not name him.

No case has been filed.
    
"The allegation is not true. It's a political conspiracy against me. There are one or two of our own people (BJP) and those of opposition (who conspired against me)", Hallappa said.

Hallappa faxed his resignation to the office of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is currently out of station.

With PTI inputs