Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested PM Modi to cancel Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport.Amid the swirling political controversy surrounding the sexual harassment allegations against Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, a lookout notice has been issued against him. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that Revanna must appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducting the inquiry, hinting at potential arrest if he fails to comply.
The SIT has declined Revanna’s plea for a week’s delay.
Prajwal Revanna and his MLA father, HD Revanna are accused of sexual harassing a woman, who claims to have worked as a cook at the Revanna household. She also accused the JDS MP of harassing her daughter via video calls. A huge volume of explicit material purportedly involving Prajwal Revanna has surfaced online. Pendrives containing thousands of explicit videos allegedly shot by Revanna were distributed in Hassan, his constituency where he is seeking a second term in this election.
Prajwal Revanna’s lawyer Arun G sought time to address the various dimensions of the case. “He has said that he needs seven days to come and cooperate with the investigation. I feel accommodating seven days should not cause any serious difficulty to the investigation,” he said.
Prajwal, who claims that the videos are “doctored”, wrote in a post on X, “As I am not in Bangalore to attend the inquiry, I have communicated to CID, Bangalore, through my advocate. The truth will prevail soon.”
Meanwhile, the allegations have triggered a political maelstrom amid the ongoing elections. With the JDS in coalition with the BJP, the accusations against Prajwal Revanna prompted the Congress to launch an offensive against the BJP. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning his silence and urging him to address the issue.
“The leader on whose shoulder the PM puts his hand and gets himself photographed, the leader for whom the PM himself goes to campaign 10 days before the election. He praises him on the stage. Today, that leader from Karnataka is absconding from the country. Just hearing about his heinous crimes makes my heart tremble. He has ruined the lives of hundreds of women. Modi ji will you remain silent?” she said in a post on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has responded sharply, saying that the BJP cannot align itself with individuals accused of crimes against women. He then questioned the inaction of the Congress-led government in Karnataka against Prajwal Revanna.
“We (BJP) have an alliance with the JD(S). Now (Prajwal) Revanna’s CD has come. They (Congress) thought they can corner the BJP. I am making it clear here BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women,” Shah said.
“You did not initiate any action till the elections in the Vokkaliga belt were over. You did politics and allowed him (Prajwal Revanna) to escape. If you have guts, tell the truth. Because of you, a heinous criminal fled the country,” he has added.
The JDS first family belongs to the Vokkaliga community, which is particularly significant in south Karnataka. Fourteen Lok Sabha seats where Vokkaliga voters play a key role went to polls on April 26.
Meanwhile, the disappearance of Prajwal Revanna’s former driver, who allegedly provided incriminating evidence to BJP leaders, has raised suspicions. Karthik’s sudden disappearance following an SIT notice has sparked speculation, with former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy hinting at the involvement of influential figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar. However, Shivakumar dismissed these insinuations.
Deputy CM Shivakumar asked, “Is brother saying so? That means he knows everything. Let him get the information from the central government. I am not crazy to send him (Karthik) abroad. I am a street fighter. There is no necessity for me to carry out politics by hiding people. They (Deve Gowda family) need it.”
“That boy (Karthik) had claimed that he had given the pen drive containing obscene videos of Prajwal Revanna to BJP leaders. Let the discussion on release of the pen drive take place later. Let’s not divert from the real issue.”
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested PM Modi to cancel Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport.
The JDS, in response to mounting pressure, suspended Prajwal Revanna from the party, after the state government formed the SIT to probe allegations of sexual abuse against him.