Prajwal Revanna is the outgoing Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka’s Hassan (File).
Bengaluru:
Karnataka lawmaker Prajwal Revanna – who went to Germany final month, shortly after intercourse crimes allegations by ladies who mentioned he pressured them into sexual acts that had been then filmed – was arrested simply after midnight as he arrived at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Worldwide Airport.
The Janata Dal-Secular chief – who flew again aboard Lufthansa flight LH0764 – was taken into custody by members of a particular police workforce tasked with investigating the fees towards him.
Sources mentioned he had twice earlier cancelled flights residence.
READ | Bengaluru Courtroom Rejects Prajwal Revanna’s Pre-Arrest Bail Request
A particular courtroom in Bengaluru on Thursday rejected an anticipatory bail request.
The police, in the meantime, have searched his Hassan residence and seized “incriminating materials”.
“Apologise To My Dad and mom…”
On Monday Revanna launched a video assertion on X through which he mentioned, “I apologise to my dad and mom… I used to be in melancholy (over political rivals’ assaults on the intercourse assault costs). I’ll seem (earlier than the police workforce) on Could 31. I’ll cooperate to the very best of my talents… I’ve the blessings of God…”
READ | Prajwal Revanna Apologises To Dad and mom, Says Will Return
The message got here after a ‘warning’ from his grandfather and JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda, who instructed him to return to India and give up, or “face your loved ones’s anger…”
READ | “Give up Or Face My Anger”: Deve Gowda To Grandson Revanna
Revanna can be the nephew of ex-Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who issued comparable warnings.
And he’s additionally the outgoing Hassan Lok Sabha MP; the 33-year-old gained this seat in 2019 and was re-nominated for the 2024 election with assist from the JDS’ new ally – the Bharatiya Janata Occasion.
The BJP has distanced itself from Revanna and the investigation. Its state unit boss, S Prakash, mentioned, “We, as a celebration, don’t have anything to do with the movies and neither do we have now any feedback to make…”
READ | BJP, JDS In Firefighting Mode Over Prajwal Revanna Intercourse Fees
The JDS, in the meantime, needed to cope with inside criticism after it emerged social gathering chief Sharangouda Kandkur had warned of potential embarrassment if these allegations had been to grow to be public.
Prajwal Revanna Intercourse Tapes Case Timeline
On April 27 – six days after the allegations surfaced, and a day after voting in Hassan – Revanna boarded a flight to Munich on the again of his diplomatic passport. On the identical day, he posted an announcement on X; he solely mentioned “reality will prevail quickly” and made no point out of the fees.
A day later the ruling Congress fashioned a particular police workforce primarily based on complaints from the state’s Ladies’s Fee, and the primary case was filed – every week after the movies surfaced and Revanna fled, triggering a political row with the Congress and the BJP blaming the opposite for his escape.
READ | How Prajwal Revanna, Accused Of Intercourse Crimes, Left With out A Visa
A police case has additionally been filed towards his father, HD Revanna, for allegedly kidnapping a lady who mentioned she had been raped by each males. The daddy, a former MLA and Public Works Division Minister, was given bail within the kidnapping case on Could 14 and the sexual assault case final week.
READ | Karnataka JDS MLA HD Revanna Will get Bail In Sexual Assault Case
On Could 1 the Congress and the BJP escalated their sniping over Revanna.
READ | Cancel Diplomatic Passport Of Revanna: Siddaramaiah To PM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested for Revanna’s diplomatic passport to be cancelled. He wrote to the PM once more on Could 22; a day after the investigating police workforce despatched an identical request – to the Ministry of Exterior Affairs.
A separate squabble then broke out over the passport cancellation requests.
The Congress accused the BJP of dragging its toes to protect Revanna. Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hit again by saying his workplace had solely obtained the request on Could 21.
READ | “Acquired Request To Impound Passport On Could 21”: S Jaishankar
“We instantly acted on it… on Could 23… we have now to comply with a sure process,” he instructed information company ANI. The Exterior Affairs Ministry spokesperson confirmed Thursday (Could 29) {that a} show-cause discover had been despatched to the JDS chief, and that he had been given 10 days to reply.
On Could 7 Interpol issued a Blue Nook discover, which requests police in member nations to gather details about an accused, his location, and/or actions in relation to a legal inquiry.
The warrant towards Prajwal Revanna – below which he has been arrested – was issued Could 18.
And final week, on Could 23, Deve Gowda wrote to his grandson demanding he give up.
I’ve issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return instantly from wherever he’s and topic himself to the authorized course of. He mustn’t check my endurance any additional. pic.twitter.com/kCMuNJOvAo
— H D Deve Gowda (@H_D_Devegowda) Could 23, 2024
“At this juncture, I can do just one factor. I can concern a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return from wherever he’s and give up earlier than the police.”
4 days later Revanna posted the video through which he mentioned he would return on Could 31.
Fees Towards Prajwal Revanna
Three circumstances have been filed.
One was on April 28 in Hassan through which a 47-year-old former maid has alleged sexual assault and exploitation. HD Revanna was arrested in reference to this case as the first accused, and rape costs had been added towards Prajwal Revanna after a further assertion from the girl.
NDTV Evaluation | Systemic Failure In Not Forcing Revanna To Face Regulation
The second was registered by the cops on Could 1; a 44-year-old girl – who could also be a JDS employee – has accused Prajwal Revanna of raping her a number of instances, together with not less than as soon as at gunpoint.
The third was filed on Could 3 and a 60-year-old girl has accused Prajwal Revanna of rape.
Prajwal Revanna has denied all costs towards him and has claimed a conspiracy by his rivals.
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