Former Karnataka minister Halappa, arrested on rape charge, was discharged from Victoria Hospital on late Thursday night. The former minister was brought to Bangalore from Shimoga on May 14 for treatment of various ailments. He refused to answer queries from reporters on being discharged from the hospital but said he would convene a press conference on July 8. He was granted bail by the High Court on June 24. Halappa, who faced charges of raping his friend's wife in November last in Shimoga, surrendered before the Crime Investigation Department police on May 9, after his bail plea was rejected by a session’s court at Shimoga. Since then he has remained in judicial custody, albeit in a hospital in the city for treatment of ailments like blood pressure and stress. Halappa resigned from the B S Yeddyurappa ministry after the rape charge were levelled against him.<br/>