'Truth Will Prevail': Prajwal Revanna Says Not In Bengaluru To Join Probe, CM Wants His Passport Cancelled

Suspended JD(S) leader and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna has given a statement for the first time since the beginning of the alleged sex scandal row, saying that CID Bengaluru has been informed of his absence in the city. “Truth will prevail soon,” he said.

In a post on X, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda shared a letter and said, “As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to C.I.D Bangalore through my Advocate. Truth will prevail soon.”

Notably, the SIT seized Prajwal’s former driver Karthik’s phone on Wednesday, for data retrieval in connection to the ‘obscene videos’.

Earlier on Tuesday, Karthik said he gave the video clips to Karnataka BJP leader and lawyer Devaraje Gowda. Gowda, meanwhile, said that he had warned the party of the sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal before the alliance deal with JD(S) was finalised.

The BJP leadership, however, asserted that no such letter reached them.

The SIT also issued a notice to Prajwal, asking him and his father HD Revanna to appear before it for investigation within 24 hours.

JD(S) MLA HD Revanna is the second accused in the case. The father-son duo have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354A (sexual abuse), 354D (stalking), 506 (threat) and 509 (insult caused to the modesty of a woman).

PRAJWAL ‘ANTICIPATED A YEAR AGO THAT…’: ADVOCATE ARUN

Prajwal’s lawyer Arun told news agency ANI that the Hassan MP needs “7 days to come and cooperate with the investigation,” adding that seven days should not cause any serious difficulty to the probe.

“There was a notice issued under section 41A of CrPC which was left at his (Prajwal Revanna) and his father’s residence,” Arun noted. The advocate also said, “I am not saying I do not know where he is…Prajwal has categorically said that the videos are morphed.”

Advocate Arun also said that Prajwal “anticipated a year ago that certain morphed videos and images may come into public with an objective to defame him.”

“For that, he had already filed a civil suit and had taken the legal recourse that was given at that time. Now, new events have turned out. Only time will tell what all will unfold,” Arun told PTI.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (Secular) suspended Prajwal from the party till the SIT investigation into the sex tape scandal is completed.

The 33-year-old suspended leader is the BJP-JD(S) candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on April 26.

SIDDARAMAIAH WRITES TO PM MODI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take action in the scandal involving Prajwal.

“According to reports, sensing the impending police case and arrest, the accused Member of Parliament and NDA candidate for Lok Sabha Prajwal Revanna has fled the country and travelled abroad on April 27 itself. It is learnt from reports that he is travelling abroad on his diplomatic passport,” Siddaramaiah said

He urged to move the ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs to take swift action and “cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna”. The CM also take for necessary steps to be taken through the Centre’s Diplomatic and police channels as well as internal agencies to ensure “swift return of the absconding MP to face the full force of law”.

Siddaramaiah on Tuesday had said that the state’s Congress government will take action according to the report the SIT will submit.

CONGRESS WAITED TO TAKE ACTION TILL VOKKALIGAS VOTED, SAYS AMIT SHAH

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the state’s  Congress government and said that they let Prajwal flee the state.

During a public rally in Karnataka’s Hubballi, Union Minister Amit Shah said that though BJP has an alliance with the JD(S) in the state, “I want to make it clear, BJP will never stand with atrocities against women.”

“Listen Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, govt is yours, of Congress, it was you who was supposed to take action. You did not take any action until the election of Vokkaliga belt was over, you did politics and let him (Prajwal Revanna) escape,” Shah added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Dharwad Lok Sabha seat, Pralhad Joshi, spoke to News18 and said that the Prajwal Revanna sex tape controversy will have no impact on the saffron party’s poll prospects.

WHAT OTHER OPPOSITION LEADERS SAID

Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and BJP leaders must pay a visit to the victims of the sex abuse case involving Prajwal.

“Kumaraswamy and BJP leaders talk a lot about women. If they really have any respect for women, they must express solidarity with the victims by paying them a visit,” he said.

Earlier as well, while reacting to the case, Shivakumar had said that the NDA has to “decided whether Prajwal Revanna is a part of them or not.”

He also sought answers from the state BJP chief BY Vijayendra on the matter. “The allegations of sexual assault are not just on some random Hassan leader. (Karnataka BJP Chief) BY Vijayendra and others must answer. I read reports of them saying that the Women’s Commission is trying to tarnish their image. The Commission has written a letter to the chief minister and the home Minister,” Shivakumar said.

Earlier Congress general secretary had also taken to X, demanding a response from the Prime Minister.

Her post said, “…Today that leader (Prajwal) from Karnataka is is absconding from the country. Just hearing about his heinous crimes makes the heart tremble. He has ruined the lives of hundreds of women. Modi ji will you remain silent?”

(with inputs from agencies)

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