Girish Chodankar alleges 'sex scandal' involving cabinet minister

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar on Tuesday, November 30, alleged that state cabinet minister was involved in a sex scandal and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was trying to destroy evidence linked to the case.

Chodankar also threatened to put the evidence in public domain ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Goa, if Sawant does not sack the Minister within 15 days and take criminal action against his cabinet colleague.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Chodankar said, "a minister in the Goa government is involved in a sex scandal. By misusing his ministerial status, he has been sexually harassing a woman. When a minister misuses his status and his power in government and sexually exploits a woman, this is a serious issue."

"In the photos and the video, the minister is seen in compromising positions with a woman. And the manner in which he is speaking to the woman (shows), he is not even fit to become an MLA. In the audio you can hear how after she is sexually exploited, the woman asks for her right and the Minister says 'I am a Minister and I can do anything'. He even tells her to go for an abortion, but the woman refuses," the Goa Congress chief added.

The accusations levelled against the yet unnamed Minister by Chodankar, comes a day after Goa BJP general secretary Damu Naik accused Chodankar of making baseless allegations against the ruling dispensation.

Chodankar also alleged that the Chief Minister was aware of the multi-media evidence against his Minister and claimed that he was using the state police force to destroy it.

"The issue had reached the Chief Minister. The CM has seen the videos and audios. He has also seen the WhatsApp chats. The CM has seen all the photos and I was surprised that when such material about a Minister comes to the CM, he continues to protect him," Chodankar said.

"The CM does nothing. I was informed again, that the CM was going out of way and is trying to locate the evidence and destroy it," Chodankar said.

Meanwhile, Goa BJP president Sadanand Tanavade said there was no complaint of any sexual exploitation against any minister and that the allegations were being made as the legislative assembly polls were approaching.

Tanavade said he had asked the Chief Minister if there was any complaint of sexual exploitation against any minister but there were none.