Karnataka JD(S) MLA H D Revanna was arrested by a Special Investigation Team on Saturday in connection with a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against his son, Prajwal Revanna. He was apprehended shortly after a court in Bengaluru dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.
Revanna, a former minister and son of JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, was taken into custody from his father’s residence in Padmanabhanagar and brought to the SIT office. The case against Revanna and his confidant Sathish Babanna was registered in Mysuru on Thursday night for allegedly abducting a woman. Babanna has already been arrested in connection with the case.
According to police sources, the woman was reportedly abducted to prevent her from testifying against Prajwal Revanna, who is contesting for the BJP-JD(S) alliance from the Hassan Lok Sabha seat. Police later rescued the abducted woman from a farmhouse allegedly linked to Revanna’s aide in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district.
Revanna faces charges under Section 364(a), 365, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, including kidnapping for ransom and abducting with intent to confine a person. After a medical examination at Bowring Hospital, Revanna was returned to the SIT office and is expected to be produced before a magistrate on Sunday morning.
Earlier attempts by Revanna to secure anticipatory bail were unsuccessful, with the Special Court for Elected Representatives dismissing his plea.
Two FIRs have been registered so far against H D Revanna.
The first case was registered against H D Revanna and son Prajwal Revanna for alleged sexual harassment at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district last Sunday, based on a complaint by a woman who worked in the Revannas’ house.
Explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna had started doing the rounds in Hassan in recent days, following which the state government constituted an SIT to probe the alleged sexual abuse allegations against the MP. The SIT also carried out an on-site investigation at Revanna’s residence in Holenaraspur, located in Hassan district. A victim and her mother accompanied the team at Revanna’s residence, where the MP allegedly recorded the videos.
The second FIR was registered against H D Revanna and his confidant Babanna in Mysuru for allegedly abducting the woman who is also reportedly a victim of sexual abuse.
Allegations of sexual abuse involving Prajwal Revanna have been a focal point in the Lok Sabha elections, with political parties engaging in a blame game. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prajwal Revanna of fleeing the country under the watch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called for the cancellation of Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport.
Meanwhile, the BJP distanced itself from the issue, asserting that it concerns only the MP and that legal procedures would be followed.
Fourteen Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka are set to go to polls on May 7.