Bengaluru: In a dramatic turn of events, Prajwal Revanna, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Janata Dal (Secular) party, has been arrested in Bengaluru on charges of sexually exploiting several women. The case has sent shockwaves through Karnataka’s political landscape, and here are some key details.
- Background:
- Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, had been absconding since April 27.
- Just before the Lok Sabha polls in his constituency of Hassan, explicit videos allegedly showing Prajwal abusing women were widely circulated, sparking outrage.
- Escape and Return:
- On April 27, Prajwal fled to Frankfurt, Germany, after the voting in his constituency.
- He returned to Bengaluru recently after spending 35 days abroad.
- Arrest and Custody:
- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case took Prajwal to the CID office for questioning immediately upon his return.
- After a medical examination, he was presented in the City Civil Court of Bengaluru.
- The SIT sought 14 days of custody, but the court granted 6 days.
- Charges:
- Prajwal Revanna faces serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC):
- Section 354A: Sexual harassment
- Section 354D: Stalking
- Section 506: Criminal intimidation
- Section 509: Insulting the modesty of a woman
- A video released by Prajwal earlier promised his appearance before the SIT on May 31.
- Political Fallout:
- Prajwal’s arrest has significant implications for the Janata Dal (Secular) party, which is an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
- His influential political family includes his father, HD Revanna, and uncle, HD Kumaraswamy, both legislators in the Karnataka state assembly.
- Ongoing Investigation:
- The SIT continues to probe the case, and Prajwal’s lawyers will have limited access to him during his custody.
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