Former Karnataka Minister and Holenarsipura MLA HD Revanna was arrested from his father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's residence in Padmanabha Nagar on Saturday evening.
The arrest came minutes after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the special court for elected representatives, Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, a day after former Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting to extend all possible support to the victims of sexual abuse allegedly by JDS MP Prajwal Revanna, the Karnataka Government on Saturday said there is a possibility of the CBI issuing a "Blue Corner Notice" against the Hassan MP, who is said to have left the country. HD Revanna is father of Prajwal.
High drama ensued as SIT teams, who had intelligence that MLA Revanna was at Gowda's residence, reached former Prime Minister's residence. The gates were not opened for them and even as the team was contemplating breaking in when Revanna opened the door of the house and walked out and gave himself up. Deve Gowda was also in the house even as high drama ensued outside the gates. Revanna has been taken to the SIT office, in the CID headquarters in the city.
Revanna has been arrested in an abduction case booked against him in KR. Nagar Police Station, Mysuru District on May 2. A victim of sexual abuse, who is seen in a video pleading to spare her but was raped, was allegedly abducted on the night of April 29, at the behest of Revanna allegedly to prevent her from testifying against his son.
The victim's son had lodged a complaint with KR. Nagar Police based on which a FIR was registered against Revanna and his close associate Satish Babu, who was arrested on May 3.
Earlier in the day, the abducted woman was rescued by the SIT, hours before the court turned down the anticipatory bail plea of Revanna. She was allegedly held captive at the farmhouse of one Rajshekhar, a close associate of Revanna, in Kalenahalli, Hunsur Taluk, Mysuru district. "Now we will proceed for arrest of Prajwal with appropriate measures. There is a possibility of CBI issuing a Blue Corner Notice” said State CMO.
A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a person's identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.
"They (SIT officials) have assured that they will arrest and get the accused back, as soon as they get the information from the airports," it said. The SIT is said to have sent a request to the CBI, the nodal body for Interpol matters in India, seeking a Blue Corner Notice against Prajwal Revanna, official sources said.
The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of former PM Deve Gowda, was the BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan, which went to the polls on April 26.
Explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days, following which the state government constituted the SIT to probe the scandal.
Prajwal is said to have flown abroad on April 27, a day after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka was held.
A day earlier in his letter, Rahul asked Siddaramaiah to ensure that all those responsible for these "heinous crimes are brought to book".
The Congress leader also expressed that he is deeply shocked to learn that as far back as December 2023, our Home Minister Amit Shah was informed by G Devaraje Gowda about Prajwal's antecedents, especially his history of sexual violence and the presence of videos filmed by the perpetrator.
Responding to the letter written by Rahul, the Chief Minister took to social media and assured that his Government is committed to protecting the victims of rape and injustice by Prajwal. "From our wreslters in Haryana to our sisters in Manipur, Indian women are bearing the brunt of the Prime Minister's tacit support for such criminals," Rahul's letter alleged.
