Former Karnataka minister H Halappa, who has been hospitalised in Shimoga since his arrest on rape charge, was today shifted to a state-run hospital here for further treatment.

Halappa was admitted to Victorial Hospital here after a medical checkup at the central jail where he was brought from Shimoga amidst tight security, police said.

A special room has been provided to Halappa and a four-member medical team set up to treat him, they said.

On May 9, Halappa was admitted to McGann Hospital in Shimoga after he complained of chest pain hours after his arrest.

A magistrate court in Shimoga yesterday permitted Halappa to be shifted from McGann Hospital to Victoria Hospital.

The former minister was arrested following a complaint by Chandravathi, wife of financier and his friend Venkatesh Murthy, that he had raped her in November last.

Halappa quit as food and civil supplies minister on May 2 after the rape charge surfaced, but has denied the allegation saying it was a political conspiracy.

His bail application would come up for hearing before the Karnataka High Court on May 18.