Congress workers took to the streets in protest, burning effigies of JDS leader Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda amidst allegations of obscenity against him.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the formation of a Special Investigative Team (SIT) to look into complaints of alleged sexual abuse against Revanna, who is seeking re-election to the Hassan Lok Sabha seat as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate.
The controversy deepened as reports surfaced suggesting that Revanna had fled the country to Germany.
The decision to initiate an SIT probe came two days after Nagalakshmi Choudhary, chairperson of the State Women's Commission, wrote to the Chief Minister and the state police chief regarding the allegations against Prajwal Revanna.
According to complaints filed by the Karnataka Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Vedike, visuals allegedly depicting influential politicians engaging in sexual abuse and coercion were being circulated in Hassan district through pen drives and social media platforms.
The videos purportedly implicate Prajwal Revanna with multiple women, leading to concerns about the safety and dignity of the women involved.
“This incident has pushed numerous women’s lives into danger, and damaged their dignity,” stated the Vedike in its complaint to the women’s commission.
The situation has escalated into a political controversy, with Congress leaders demanding accountability from both the JDS and BJP, who are contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance. Voting for seats contested by the JDS concluded on April 26.
“The Prime Minister, BY Vijayendra, Shobakka, Ashok, Kumaranna, and Ashwath Narayan must answer to the people,” demanded Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar
Previously, Prajwal Revanna had filed a case against an individual named Naveen Gowda, alleging that the visuals had been manipulated to implicate him. He also obtained an ex-parte injunction from the Principal City Civil and Sessions Court against 89 media outlets, preventing them from publishing any “defamatory” content about him.
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