Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a comprehensive charge sheet against Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Deve Gowda, in connection with a rape case. The charge sheet, which spans over 2,000 pages, was submitted to a special court and includes statements from approximately 150 witnesses.
In addition to Prajwal Revanna, the SIT has also filed charges against his father, HD Revanna, a former Public Works Department minister and current MLA, in a related sexual harassment case. The allegations stem from multiple incidents, including the alleged sexual exploitation of a domestic worker employed by the Revanna family.
The charge sheet details various forms of evidence gathered by the SIT, including biological, physical, scientific, mobile, and digital data, as well as expert opinions obtained during the investigation. The SIT is currently investigating four separate cases against Prajwal, making this case one of significant legal and political ramifications.
Prajwal, who has been actively involved with the JDS for nearly a decade, holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has also pursued studies in Australia. He is the nephew of former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and was elected as the Member of Parliament for Hassan in 2019.
The charges against Prajwal Revanna include sections 376, 376(2)(k), 354, 354(a), and 354(b) of the Indian Penal Code, while his father, HD Revanna, has been charged under sections 354 and 354(a) of the IPC. The charges were brought forward following a complaint by a domestic helper, who is also reportedly a distant relative of the family. The complainant alleges that she was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions.
The controversy surrounding the Revanna family escalated ahead of the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when explicit videos surfaced on social media allegedly showing Prajwal engaging in sexual exploitation of several women. The videos triggered widespread public outrage, leading to calls for accountability.
In response to the scandal, the Karnataka State Women’s Commission demanded a thorough investigation, writing to the Congress government to expedite the probe. The state government subsequently ordered the SIT to conduct a detailed investigation, culminating in the filing of the charge sheet.
The case continues to draw significant public and political attention as it unfolds.
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