The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday issued notices to MLA H D Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna, the incumbent MP from Hassan, who has been booked in an alleged sexual abuse case, reports PTI. The duo have been asked to appear for questioning. Prajwal Revanna is the BJP-JD(S) candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls on Friday.
The summons have been issued based on the complaint of a woman, who worked in the Revanna household for over three years. The complainant alleged that HD Revanna sexually harassed her whenever his wife was not home. The case has been registered at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district on Sunday.
The father-son duo was booked under IPC sections 354A (sexual abuse), 354D (stalking), 506 (threat) and 509 (insult caused to the modesty of a woman).
The Karnataka government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of IPS officers led by Additional Director General of Police B K Singh to probe the sexual abuse charges, after several explicit videos were in circulation.
Prajwal Revanna is not in the country and is said to have flown to Germany after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka on April 26.
As the matter escalated, Prajwal, who is the grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and nephew of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, was suspended by the Janata Dal (Secular) on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said there is no question of protecting anyone, including Prajwal Revanna, over the case, adding that action has been initiated in accordance with law by forming a SIT.
He was reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on Tuesday wanting to know why the Congress government in Karnataka did not take any action against Prajwal Revanna.
“No one is arrested all of a sudden. Factors such as complaints, evidence, sections that have been invoked, whether it is bailable or non bailable will be considered. So they (SIT) have issued notice under Section 41A of CrPC. Within 24 hours they (Revanna and Prajwal) will have to appear, if not further procedures will follow,” Parameshwara said, in response to a question, as quoted by PTI.
While speaking to reporters here, he said, the SIT was formed immediately by the state government and investigation has started.
“Saying that we (govt) did not do anything (is not right). The Union Home Minister has said it, it has come to my notice. There is no question of protecting anyone in this case. Action has been initiated in accordance with law. It (case) is linked to a lot of lives, so things cannot be done as per one’s wishes. That’s the reason SIT was formed,” he added.