The Karnataka High Court has directed the Special Investigation Team of Bengaluru police to examine the reports on a sexual assault allegation case against former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and a counter-complaint of extortion which he filed.

In July, the SIT had placed reports of its investigation into sexual assault and extortion complaints before the high court while seeking permission to file them in a lower court.

The high court had earlier raised questions over the absence of supervision by the head of the SIT, who was on leave for a major part of the probe between May to July due to personal reasons.

The court has asked the SIT to resubmit the investigation reports after examination by the head of the SIT, Soumendu Mukherjee, an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police. The final reports of the investigations must be placed before the head of the SIT for appropriate order”, the high court stated. The case has been posted for November 29.