The Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with probing the alleged sexual abuse cases involving Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has detained four more people in connection with the kidnapping of a woman, PTI reports, citing sources from SIT.
The SIT formed by the Congress government had earlier arrested Prajwal’s father and Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna, the son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who is currently in judicial custody at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.
HD Revanna’s associate, Sathish Babanna, has also been arrested in connection with the kidnapping case and is currently in police custody.
The four detainees were picked up to ascertain their roles in the case, according to police. All of them hail from Krishnaraja Nagara in Mysuru.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had announced on Wednesday that a third person had been arrested, refraining from disclosing their identity due to ongoing investigation procedures.
Revanna and Babanna were arrested on charges of kidnapping a woman, who is a mother of three, from her residence and unlawfully detaining her, according to police sources. The woman has since been rescued.
The police action was taken following a complaint by the 20-year-old son of the victim woman, who alleged that his mother was featured in a large collection of explicit videos recently leaked. These videos allegedly depicted women who were raped and molested by Prajwal.
Meanwhile, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy took a dig at the state government formed SIT, saying that it is “losing track”. He added that the party intends to submit a memorandum to Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot concerning the matter.
The former Karnataka chief minister, while maintaining that he wants the guilty to be punished in accordance with the law, raised questions on the probe.
Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy questioned why the woman has not been produced before the court till now.
“It has been how many days since the kidnapped woman was brought here? Has her statement been recorded under section 164 of CrPC (statements recorded by magistrate)? Has she been produced before the judge? It has been five days, why has the woman not been produced before the judge? From where was she brought? Was the ‘mahazar’ done? Was she brought from some farmhouse as claimed and reported in the media?” Kumaraswamy asked.
Kumaraswamy also expressed scepticism regarding the SIT’s intentions, suggesting that the investigation might be prolonged to serve political agendas. He further criticised the delay in presenting evidence to the court and speculated about the resolution of the issue post the Lok Sabha election results on June 4.
A magisterial court on Wednesday remanded HD Revanna to judicial custody till May 14.