'Venkateshmurthy wants more money'

Sources reveal Chandravathi's husband does not want former minister Halappa, who has been accused of rape, to come clean in the sex scandal till he pays up While BJP leader Haratalu Halappa is allegedly busy exerting political pressure on Chandravathi, who has accused him of rape, to force her into working out a compromise, her husband Venkateshmurthy is busy using her suicide bid to train guns against the former minister. What has complicated matters is that Chandravathi, Venkateshmurthy, Halappa and his political rivals Beluru Gopalakrishna and S Bangarappa, who are said to have engineered the scandal, are Idiga, a dominant caste in Shimoga. Money matters: Venkateshmurthy is said to be using Chandravathi's suicide bid to train guns against Halappa. file picSolution aheadCID sleuths probing the case are said to be pressuring Chandravathi to work out a compromise with Halappa and community leaders are understood to have been persuading Chandravathi to take back her complaint. The combined efforts are believed to have borne fruit as Chandravathi has reportedly softened her stand, according to sources closely monitoring the developments.Chandravathi and Halappa were in a relationship for the past eight years, said a reliable source. Halappa and Venkateshmurthy had a dispute over money and Chandravathi was used as pawn. I think love will prevail in the end and Halappa will emerge safe from the crisis. Moreover, the deal has almost been struck. Money has been offered to the community leaders involved in counseling Chandravathi. Halappa surrendered before the CID after it became clear to all parties that they were close to sealing the deal, said the source.However, Venkateshmurthy is believed to be bargaining for more money. Venkateshmurthy would have been arrested by now had it not been for the panchayat polls. If he continues with his stubborn ways, he may be booked after second phase of panchayat polls, said the source.Suicide attemptVenkateshmurthy had claimed that Chandravathi attempted suicide two days back because she was unable to bear the humiliation. She is so depressed that she can't talk about this. News about a compromise was all speculation. I will see to it that Halappa is punished, Venkateshmurthy had said. The Session's Court has extended Halappa's judicial custody till 24 April, while he is hospitalised on health grounds. His counsel Ravi B Nayak moved a bail application in the High Court, which will be heard on Tuesday.