Prajwal Revanna, the sitting MP and NDA candidate from Karnataka’s Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, fled the country immediately after the polling ended last Friday on April 26. He was seen boarding a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt in Germany from the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
The police discovered his abrupt departure the next day, just as the state government was forming a special investigation team (SIT) to probe serious charges of sexual predation against him. This development came on the heels of the circulation of sex videos allegedly featuring Revanna and several women on social media, which left the public in Hassan and the rest of the state in shock.
Despite attempts by the Gowda family to dismiss the videos as fake, the public sentiment seemed to be against them. The scandal appeared to have jeopardised Revanna’s re-election bid, prompting him to leave the country in fear of severe backlash.
This incident has significantly tarnished the reputation of the Gowda family, including its patriarch and former prime minister, HD Deve Gowda. The JD(S) has also taken a hit in Hassan, a stronghold that Deve Gowda has nurtured for over 60 years. The situation has been further exacerbated by party leaders and workers lodging police complaints against Revanna.
In an unexpected twist, Prajwal’s uncle and former CM HD Kumaraswamy welcomed the SIT investigation, stating, “Those who ate salt should drink water, this is the law of the land. If he has fled the country, the police will bring him back. I have nothing to do with this incident.”
Meanwhile, Prajwal’s father, HD Revanna, has remained silent since voting day and his mother, Bhavani Revanna, has been unreachable since the videos surfaced.
The police have reported that there are hundreds of video clips and dozens of women have lodged complaints against Prajwal, alleging that he sexually assaulted them using his political influence and wealth.
The SIT, led by additional director general of police BK Singh and including two women IPS officers – Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar, is now investigating the matter. The team, credited with solving the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has sparked outrage across the state, with various organisations demanding Revanna’s arrest and swift trial.
Karnataka revenue minister Krishna Byregowda has described the incident as the “world’s biggest sexual abuse scandal” and promised swift action. However, the BJP, an alliance partner, has remained silent on the issue, drawing ridicule from the ruling Congress.
A 47-year-old woman who worked as a house help at the Revanna home has lodged a complaint against both Prajwal and his father, alleging extreme sexual harassment over the years.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through the JD(S), silencing party leaders and threatening to collapse the BJP-JD(S) alliance post-polls. It also poses a significant threat to the Gowda family’s political fortunes.
If the SIT investigation is successful and there is no political interference, the Gowdas may find it difficult to escape the consequences. The 92-year-old former PM is facing the toughest challenge of his life. First, he has to save his family and, later, his party. But, both age and sympathies are no longer on his side.
Also Read: Prajwal Revanna Sex Scandal: One Victim Shares Details In Police Complaint
