The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sex video case allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna has summoned the grandson of JD (S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda to appear before it for investigation within 24 hours. H D Revanna, Prajwal’s father, has also been summoned by SIT.
Prajwal, 33, is the incumbent MP from Hassan in Karnataka. The alleged sex scandal has intensified the rift within the Deve Gowda family, further impacting the family’s political standing in the state.
Meanwhile, Prajwal Revanna’s driver Karthik on Tuesday said he gave the clips to Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and lawyer Devaraje Gowda.
Gowda claimed that he had warned the party of the sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal before the alliance was finalised. However, the party leadership, maintained that the letter did not reach them. JD(S) is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka.
More than 2,000 video clips allegedly showing Prajwal indulging in sexual acts with women, including a few government employees, were circulated in Hassan district, which went to polls in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26.
Most of the tapes were allegedly recorded by Prajwal on his mobile phone and transferred to his laptop. The majority of tapes were shot in his house and office.
Woman’s complaint
On Saturday, a woman working in their house in Hassan, filed a complaint, alleging that Prajwal and his father, HD Revanna, former Karnataka PWD minister and MLA from Holenarsipu, sexually abused her several times between 2019 and 2022.
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (outraging modesty of a woman).
As the Karnataka government ordered a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter, Prajwal fled the country, claiming that the videos were doctored.
Prajwal was on Tuesday suspended from JD(S) over the scandal.
Earlier in the day, H D Kumaraswamy claimed that Karnataka’s deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar was behind the controversy. “Is Prajwal’s face seen in the videos? Still we will take action on moral grounds,” Kumaraswamy said.
Kumaraswamy’s statement came minutes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP favours a probe in the case. “It is very serious, we cannot tolerate it. We want to ask Congress that despite being in power, why hasn’t the government acted yet? Priyanka (Gandhi Vadra) ji should ask their chief minister and deputy chief minister,” said Shah.
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