Prajwal Revanna, the absconding MP and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has announced via a video message that he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 31. This announcement comes after a month of evasion following serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
The video reportedly recorded at an undisclosed location, surfaced exactly one month after Prajwal Revanna left the country. In it, he claims that the cases filed against him are part of a political conspiracy aimed at defaming him.
Background and Reactions
Prajwal Revanna fled to Germany last month amid a series of allegations by women accusing him of coercing them into sexual acts. This prompted HD Kumaraswamy, a senior JD(S) leader and Prajwal Revanna’s uncle, to urge him to return to India and face the charges. HD Kumaraswamy stated that both he and Deve Gowda had insisted Prajwal Revanna respect the party workers and cooperate with the investigation.
“I am relieved that he has apologized to our loyal party workers,” HD Kumaraswamy remarked, emphasizing the need for truth to emerge during the investigation and for any guilty parties to be punished.
Political Blame Game
The controversy has sparked a political war, with the ruling Congress in Karnataka labeling it the “world’s biggest sexual abuse case.” Congress leaders have accused the JD(S) and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of attempting to cover up the scandal to protect their political interests during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Senior Congress leader and state minister Priyank Kharge questioned the timing of Prajwal Revanna’s video, criticizing him for not addressing the allegations earlier. Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the delay in Prajwal Revanna’s response despite multiple opportunities, including notices from the SIT and appeals from family members.
Passport Controversy
Amid the scandal, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy responded to Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara’s comments about the state’s request to cancel Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport. HD Kumaraswamy defended the protocol involved and expressed support for the decision to cancel the passport, which was used by Prajwal to leave the country.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs had received the request from the Karnataka CM and acted upon it, initiating the procedure as required by the Passport Act.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The scandal broke on April 27 when a woman working as a house help at the Revanna residence accused Prajwal Revanna of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. The Karnataka government constituted an SIT to investigate the allegations.
During an election rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prajwal Revanna had “raped 400 women,” leading to an FIR being filed against Rahul Gandhi by the JD(S) for failing to disclose details of the alleged victims.
Prajwal’s Video Statement
In the video, Prajwal Revanna addressed his family and JD(S) party workers, apologizing for his absence and explaining his situation. He mentioned that his foreign trip was pre-planned and that he became aware of the allegations only after reaching abroad. He claimed to have gone into depression and isolation due to the political conspiracy against him.
Prajwal Revanna assured that he would cooperate with the investigation and expressed confidence in the judiciary. “I will appear before the SIT on May 31 and cooperate with the investigation. I have faith in the judiciary and believe I will be exonerated,” he stated.
The political and legal drama surrounding Prajwal Revanna continues to unfold as he prepares to face the SIT later this week.
