In a startling development, Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna and his father, former state minister HD Revanna, have been booked for harassment and criminal intimidation by the Karnataka Police. The case revolves around allegations of circulating obscene videos and assault, casting a shadow over the political landscape of the state.
The Congress government in Karnataka announced the formation of a special investigation team to probe the case after reports surfaced of “obscene videos” allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna circulating in Hassan, his Lok Sabha constituency.
According to the reports, over 2,000 pen drives containing videos of alleged assault against multiple women, purportedly recorded by Prajwal Revanna himself, were distributed in Hassan ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is currently the JD(S) Lok Sabha candidate from Hassan, while HD Revanna serves as the party MLA from Holenarasipur. The JD(S) is allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.
Amidst the controversy, the Holenarsipur Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint by a woman who had worked in the Revanna household. The complainant, a relative of HD Revanna’s wife, accused both HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna of harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards women workers.
The complainant revealed that she recognized one of the women in the explicit videos as a former employee at a farmhouse owned by the Revanna family.
In response to the allegations, Prajwal Revanna filed a complaint alleging that the videos were doctored to tarnish his image. He asserted that they were meant to influence voters ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the investigation has been handed over to a special investigation team.
Congress leader Pawan Khera raised questions about the BJP’s role in the matter, alleging that Prajwal Revanna was aided in escaping to Germany amidst the controversy. Khera also cited a letter purportedly written by Karnataka BJP leader Devaraj Gowda, which mentioned the existence of a pen drive containing incriminating videos.
As the scandal unfolds, it threatens to have far-reaching implications on Karnataka politics, especially with the Lok Sabha elections looming on May 7th. The case underscores the need for swift and impartial investigation into allegations of harassment and misconduct, regardless of political affiliations.