The alleged sex scandal involving the grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has led to a massive political uproar across the country with Opposition parties seeking explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was in Karnataka on Monday and the BJP which has an alliance with JD(S) in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
While there was no headway in the matter involving alleged accused Prajwal Revanna, demand has been made for his immediate arrest and bringing him back to India.
The BJP is yet to react on this issue and Congress sought to know who helped Revanna escape to Germany.
The Opposition sharpened their attack as Modi was in his election campaign schedule in Karnataka and hence asked why the BJP went ahead with its alliance with the JD(S) when a BJP leader had written to the party’s Karnataka unit president, exposing the presence of a pen drive full of “sleaze videos of Revanna”.
A case of sexual harassment and stalking has been registered against Revanna. The case was registered on a complaint by their cook, who alleged that four months after she started working for them, Revanna used to sexually harass her and used to make video calls to her daughter and have “vulgar conversations” with her.
JD(S) MLA and former Minister HD Revanna on Monday said he was open to an investigation over the allegations of sexual abuse involving his son and Hassan MP Revanna and himself, and said they were ready to face action in accordance with law, if the charges are proved.
Alleging that there was “politics” behind the issue, he said his son Revanna would “join” the probe “whenever he is asked to”. Revanna is the NDA candidate in Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to the polls on April 26.
On his son’s whereabouts, his father said, “Normally he had to go (without saying where), and he has gone. Did he know they will file an FIR and constitute an SIT? He will come when called for investigation.”
Former Chief Minister of the State, H D Kumaraswamy, said the party has decided to suspend Revanna. The JD(S)leader also sought to distance JD(S)’s alliance partner the BJP and the Prime Minister from the case, amid attacks by the ruling Congress seeking their response on the issue.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi asked whether the Prime Minister will remain silent on the matter. “The leader with whom the PM gets photographed by placing his hand on his shoulder. The leader for whom the PM himself campaigned 10 days ago. Praised him on stage. Today, that leader of Karnataka is absconding from the country. Just hearing about his heinous crimes committed is heart-wrenching. This ruined the lives of hundreds of women. Modi, will you still remain silent?” Priyanka said.
Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera shared on social media a letter written by BJP leader Devaraj Gowda to the Karnataka BJP president on December 8 last year. He said the letter exposed the presence of a pen drive full of “sleaze videos of Revanna”.
Trinamool Congress leader Sushmita Dev slammed the BJP and criticised them for backing the accused. She said the scandal that unfolded “goes to the top”. The BJP is very much a part of the kind of sexual abuse that that has unfolded, she said.
Several sex videos allegedly featuring Revanna with multiple women have been doing the rounds in recent days. According to police sources, Revanna has fled the country. Congress led Karnataka government has announced a Special Investigation Team to probe the “obscene videos case”.
AAP called the alleged sex scandal “worse than the Nithari serial murders” and questioned why the BJP did not sever ties with the southern party after the incident came to light. Former Delhi Commission for Women chief and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal appealed to the Election Commission to disqualify Revanna and demanded that re-polling be conducted in the constituency.
