On May 19 of the following year, 996, he was demoted to Izumo no kuni Gon no kami (Provisional Governor of Izumo Province) over three charges that he had criticized Emperor Kazan, had placed a curse on Higashi-sanjoin, and had participated in Daigensuiho (magic rituals of Shingon esoteric Buddhism) (His older half brother Korechika, Naidaijin (Minister of the Interior), was also demoted to Dazai gon no sochi (Provisional Governor-General of the Dazai-fu offices).
翌2年4月24日、花山天皇奉射・東三条院呪詛・大元帥法を行った罪状三ヶ条を以って出雲国権守に左遷された（内大臣だった同母兄伊周は大宰権帥に左遷）。