In Bengaluru, upon the arrival of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna from Germany during the early hours of Friday, a group of women personnel from the Karnataka Police, clad in civilian attire and led by women IPS officers, awaited to execute the outstanding arrest warrant.
The warrant for arrest lingered due to multiple allegations of sexual assault against him, causing not only embarrassment to his political party but also drawing the disapproval of his grandfather and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. Recently, Deve Gowda issued a stern admonishment to Prajwal Revanna, urging his return to the country to confront the investigations into the accusations of sexual misconduct. Deve Gowda asserted that neither he nor any other family member would intervene in the inquiry.
Following the emergence of numerous leaked videos purportedly depicting instances of sexual abuse by Prajwal, three cases have been formally registered against him.
The 33-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, who is currently seeking reelection as an NDA candidate from Hassan, absconded from the country on April 27 and returned in the early hours of Friday. Upon his arrival from Munich, Germany to Bengaluru, he was greeted by female law enforcement officers, as per sources within the SIT.
During the execution of the arrest warrant, Prajwal was accompanied by female police officers under the command of IPS officers Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar. Subsequently, he was transported to the CID office in a vehicle solely occupied by female officers.
“It was a deliberate decision to deploy exclusively female officers for Prajwal’s arrest, conveying a message that the JD(S) leader misused his position and authority as an MP with regards to women. These same women possess the jurisdiction to apprehend him through all legal channels,” disclosed a source within the SIT. Additionally, the presence of female officers served as a symbolic gesture to the victims, signifying that they were undeterred by any influential figures, the source added.
A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on May 18 against Prajwal Revanna, following an application submitted by the SIT. The Congress-led Karnataka government has petitioned the Centre to revoke his diplomatic passport. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a show-cause notice to Prajwal, questioning why his diplomatic passport should not be revoked in light of the allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Referring to the charges leveled against him as baseless and alleging a political conspiracy, the MP released a video statement earlier this week, wherein he disclosed his struggle with depression. He also filed an anticipatory bail application at the Principal City and Sessions Court for Elected Representatives on May 29, prompting the court to issue a notice to the SIT to present their objections before scheduling a hearing for Friday.
The scandal has incited a political uproar, with the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance locked in a contentious debate. While the Congress government has formed an SIT to investigate the allegations, the BJP and JD(S), as partners in the NDA, have demanded that the case be transferred to the CBI. Additionally, they have called for action against those responsible for the widespread dissemination of explicit videos. The instances of sexual abuse came to light following the circulation of numerous pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Hassan on April 26.
