A major controversy has erupted in Karnataka involving Prajwal Revanna, a JD(S) MP and NDA candidate, who faces serious allegations of sexual exploitation and circulation of objectionable videos.
Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, hails from a prominent political family. His father, HD Revanna, is a sitting MLA from Holenarasipur. The JD(S) has fielded Prajwal Revanna again from Karnataka’s Hassan Lok Sabha seat.
Videos Surface Showing Alleged Sexual Exploitation
Several videos have surfaced that purportedly show Revanna coercing women into having sex and recording the acts on his phone. A women’s rights group, Karnataka Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Vedike, filed a complaint stating that the videos have “pushed numerous women’s lives into danger and damaged their dignity.”
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar strongly condemned the allegations, calling the scandal “unprecedented” in the country and the world. “Such an incident has never occurred in our country and the world. Prajwal Revanna is a JD(S) MP from Hassan, and these allegations are extremely serious,” she said.
BJP Allegedly Aware of Allegations, Yet Campaigned for Revanna
Shockingly, reports suggest that the BJP, which is in an alliance with Revanna’s JD(S) party, was aware of the allegations against him even before the Lok Sabha elections. Despite this, the BJP continued campaigning for Revanna and allowed him to contest the elections.
A letter written by BJP leader Devaraj Gowda to the BJP Karnataka president on December 8, 2023, was shared on social media, informing about a pen drive containing videos of Prajwal Revanna.
Opposition Parties Question BJP’s Silence
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera asked: “Why did the BJP still go ahead with the alliance? Why no action was taken on the serial rapes video recorded and kept in the pen drive? Why did the PM campaign for and shared the stage with #PrajwalRevanna despite knowing that Prajwal is the kingpin of world’s biggest & murkiest sex abuse? Who helped #PrajwalRevanna escape to Germany? Why is PM silent?”
https://twitter.com/Pawankhera/status/1784819384219001150
KT Rama Rao (KTR) of the BRS also raised questions, stating: “Shocked and deeply disturbed by the news of rampant sexual exploitation by MP Prajwal Revanna. How was this guy allowed to leave the country? If the Union govt is not complicit in the escape, let them bring him back to India to face the charges & wrath of law.”
SIT Probe and Political Fallout
The Karnataka government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the government will get to the bottom of the issue and take appropriate action.
Revanna has denied the allegations, claiming that the videos were doctored and filed a complaint alleging that the videos were being circulated to “tarnish his image and poison the minds of voters.”
