Achi news desk-
Guwahati: Following the Karnataka government’s decision to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in a sex scandal involving several women, a woman has reportedly filed a police complaint naming his father, HD Revanna, as an accused as well. .
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Prajuwal, who is Hassan’s nominee, reportedly left the country for Germany amid the controversy.
The complainant informed the Holnarasipura police that she decided to come forward and question Ravana and Parajuwal after witnessing online testimonies of other victims recounting their experiences.
She claimed that the incidents of abuse occurred between 2019 and 2022, according to reports.
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Her complaint, along with others, led to a charge sheet being filed against Prajwal, which will be investigated by the SIT headed by Additional Director General of Police Bijai Kumar Singh.
The team includes IPS officers Suman D. Pankar and Seema Latkar.
When the situation created a political uproar during the Lok Sabha elections in the state, HD Kumaraswamy, Ravana’s brother and former chief minister, distanced the party from the matter.
HD Revanna is the son of former Indian Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of Deve Gowda.
“Deb Gowda and I have never disrespected any woman. The state government has ordered an SIT probe, so let the report come out. We will not protect anyone. Let the truth come out,” said CM Kumaraswamy.
Earlier, speaking to the media, Kumaraswamy admitted that the BJP at the Center had alerted them about the videos. “The BJP leaders told us that there were problems in the Hasan Lok Sabha constituency and advised (us) not to field Prajwal Ravana. But Deve Gowda assured them of victory there,” he said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced his government’s decision to set up an SIT following a letter from the State Commission for Women stating that “influential politicians sought sexual favors” from women besides “raping some of them,” according to reports.
Sexual videos, allegedly involving Prajwal Ravana, surfaced on social media three days before Hasan voted on April 26 in Phase 2 of the election.
Speaking to the media, one of the alleged victims accused Prajwal of sexually abusing her and recording the entire episode. “I came out now after knowing that hundreds of women were taken advantage of,” she said.
When asked why she didn’t complain earlier, she said, “It’s hard to live in Hasan and deal with the family.”
Most of the video footage is said to have been shot in Hasan or Holnarasipura.
Although the clips were widely circulated in Hassan district, the police did not initiate any action against Prajwal until Sunday.
Mohammad Sujita MS, Hasan SP, told the media that a case was registered after a victim gave her statement.
Holnarsipura town police registered a case under sections 354 (a) (sexual harassment), 354 (d) (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (with intent to insult the modesty of any woman). “We have taken the victim’s statement and the case has been transferred to the SIT. They are going to investigate the case,” she said.
Incidentally, Prajwal obtained an injunction from a local court to restrain the media, claiming that videos were manipulated to tarnish his image before the elections.
His polling agent, Poornachandra Tejaswi MG, filed a police complaint, naming people who had circulated the “morphed” pieces.
Three days before voting, more than 2,000 pen drives were distributed across Hassan district. “Pen drives were kept on bus seats, at bus stops, and given to people in public places like parks.
These pen drives had more than 2000 files which included videos and images.
After a few hours we saw these shared widely on WhatsApp. It was shocking,” said an official.
Many of the victims in the clips were said to be government employees, some domestic helpers and others from the unorganized sector.
