Palemar returns to Mangalore, pleads innocence

Mangalore, February 20: The Mangalore North MLA Krishna J Palemar, who was forced to resign from his ministerial berth two weeks ago, has pleaded not guilty during his first visit to home constituency following the Assembly porngate.

Mr Palemar, who was one of the most influential politicians of Karnataka till February 7, when he faced the charge of providing porn clips to his two cabinet colleagues during the Assembly proceedings, speaking to media persons at his residence in the city on Monday expressed confidence that the House Committee probe would prove his innocence.

“The reason for my resignation was not that I did a mistake, rather, I did not want my district or state to have a shady image. Moreover I did not want to harm my party's image,” said Mr Palemar adding that people of the coastal district, where he was in-charge minister since last four-years knew about his 'character and personality'.

The MLA justified his prolonged silence over the issue saying he thought it was not appropriate to speak in the public when he had given a written statement before the House Committee formed to inquire into the porngate.

He admitted that he was in a state of mental shock following the unexpected incident in the Assembly. However, he expressed confidence that he would go to the people of the district once again after coming clean on porngate.

Mr Palemar also clarified that it was the Party's responsibility to decide whether to make him minister after coming clean on allegations or not.