Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a special investigation team to probe a sex scandal allegedly involving Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from the seat, Prajwal Revanna. The development comes a day after voting took place in the constituency on April 26.
Video clips allegedly showed JDS chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s grandson Prajwal Revanna indulging in sexual acts with several women including a few government employees following which, the Karnataka State Commission for Women asked the chief minister to set up a special investigation team.
The Women’s Commission said that it also has cases allegedly involving women being forced or filmed without their consent.
The Commission, headed by Dr Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, said that “influential politicians” sought sexual favours from women besides “raping some of them”.
Announcing his decision to set up an SIT to probe the case, Siddaramaiah took to microblogging site X and wrote, “The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with the Prajwal Revanna obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted. Against this backdrop, the Chairperson of the Women’s Commission had written a letter to the government to conduct an SIT investigation. This decision has been taken in response to their request.”
Meanwhile, the JDS MP Prajwal Revanna is said to have taken a 3:00 am flight on April 27 and has left for Frankfurt in Germany.
Case Against Ex-minister H D Revanna, His MP Son Prajwal
A case of sexual harassment and stalking was registered on Sunday against the son and grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, former minister H D Revanna and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna respectively.
The case was registered in Holenarasipur police station in the district based on a complaint by their cook. The complainant said she is a relative of Revanna’s wife Bhavani.
She alleged that four months after she started working, Revanna used to sexually harass her, and his son Prajwal used to make video calls to her daughter and have “vulgar conversations” with her.
She also alleged that there is a threat to her life as well as other members of her family.
Shivakumar Seeks Explanation From BJP
Reacting to the case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the NDA has to “decide whether Prajwal Revanna is a part of them or not”.
JD(S) is a part of the NDA alliance in the Southern state.
“The Women’s Commission has filed multiple complaints, I think honourable chief minister has reviewed the entire situation along with the Home Minister and the police and came to a conclusion. Now the NDA has to decide whether he’s part of them or not. They want to associate with him or not. The prime minister has to take a call,” he said.
Shivakumar also demanded answers from the state BJP chief on the matter.
“The allegations of sexual assault are not just on some random Hassan leader. (Karnataka BJP Chief) BY Vijayendra and others must answer. I read reports of them saying that the Women’s Commission is trying to tarnish their image. The Commission has written a letter to the chief minister and the home Minister,” Shivakumar was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
It Is A Serious Matter: Karnataka Home Minister
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the state government will soon announce the name of the person who will head the SIT formed to probe the obscene video scandal allegedly involving the Hassan MP.
“It is a very serious matter, not a joke or anything. We have constituted the SIT. We will announce the name of the person who is going to head the SIT in another hour,” he said.
On reports of Prajwal Revanna leaving the country, G Parameshwara said, “I was told that he has left the country. It is left to the SIT hereafter. Once a government order is announced it is left to the SIT to procure him back to India and investigate.”
‘To Poison Mind Of Voters’: Prajwal Revanna On Video Scandal
Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna on Sunday filed a complaint claiming that the videos being circulated are doctored.
The Hassan MP claimed that the videos are morphed and being circulated to “tarnish his image and poison the minds of voters.”
Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad also reacted to the matter saying “no matter how powerful an individual is action will be taken”.
“The videos I believe are exhibiting some kind of force and violence against Women that are very serious and it will be properly investigated and necessary action will be taken. No matter who and how powerful he is, action will be taken,” Arshad said.
Congress minister Priyank Kharge questioned the BJP why it had given a parliamentary ticket to Prajwal Revanna despite being aware of his alleged act and questioned if party president JP Nadda would visit the residence of all the victims as he did with the Neha Hiremath case.
On the other hand, Poornachandra Tejaswi MG, the election agent for both the Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP, lodged a complaint alleging that Naveen Gowda and several others circulated purported videos to defame Revanna, an India Today report said.
“Naveen Gowda and others morphed videos and images and circulated them to the voters in the Hassan Lok Sabha segment through pen drives, CDs and WhatsApp to put Prajwal Revanna in bad light. They are asking the people not to vote for him,” the FIR stated.
Karnataka Home Minister, G Parameshwara, however, refuted reports of “political motivation” behind the scandal.
“When there are so many videos being circulated in the society how can this be politically motivated? When the aggrieved women are filing complaints with the women’s commission how can this be political? It is not political and it is something which we never heard of and that’s why we have constituted SIT and they will look into it,” he said.
JD(S) Welcome SIT Probe
JD(S) leader G T Devegowda said that the party will discuss the issue and decide what needs to be done. He welcomed that the formation of the SIT and however, he said he is not aware of video.
“Whoever commits a crime it’s a crime and they will face punishment if it’s true, be it my son or anyone,” he said.
“We are not aware about the video and accusations and the party welcomes the formation of SIT and investigation. SIT is under you (state govt) CID is under you, whatever action you might take we will welcome. Our leader will sit and discuss what action to be taken against Prajwal Revanna. I’m not discarding these allegations,” said G T Devegowda, chairman of JDS party core committee.
Congress Demands Revanna’s Arrest
Karnataka Congress women wing staged a protest against Prajwal Revanna in front of the DG office in Bengaluru. They demanded immediate arrest of Prajwal Revanna.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Comments
0 comment