Sexual abuse: JD(S) to suspend Hassan candidate Prajwal

Bengaluru: The JD(S) has decided to suspend Hassan MP and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson, Prajwal Revanna over sexual abuse allegations, party chief H D Kumaraswamy said on Monday as the Congress and others tore into the BJP over the issue and its alliance with the southern party.

Police on Sunday booked Prajwal and his father -- JD(S) MLA and former minister H D Revanna -- for sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a complaint from a woman, who worked in their household.

Prajwal (33) is the BJPJD(S) alliance candidate for the Lok Sabha election Hassan, which went to the polls on Friday.

"A decision was already made. Tomorrow it is to be recommended at the core committee meeting in Hubballi. Because he (Prajwal) is a Member of Parliament, it has to be done from Delhi. So I had requested Deve Gowda (JD(S) National President and former PM). Neither he (Gowda) nor I were aware of this issue," Kumaraswamy claimed.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the matter, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wondered how Prajwal was able to leave the country after committing atrocities against women.

Quoting police, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's office had said in a statement, Prajwal had left the country (after polling was over).

Addressing an election rally at Sedam town in Kalaburagi, Vadra said: "The person (Prajwal Revanna) who shared the stage with PM Modi and for whom Modi asked votes committed atrocities on thousands of women. I want to ask PM Modi and HM Amit Shah what they want to say about it."

Responding, Revanna said he was open to an investigation over the allegations of sexual abuse involving his son and himself, and that they were ready to face action as per law if the charges are proved.

Alleging there was "politics" behind the issue, the elder son of JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda said Prajwal would "join" the probe "whenever he is asked to".

"We are here, we will face it legally...I will not react to this issue, as the case has been given to SIT and their investigation should not be hindered," he told reporters.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Prajwal Revanna has been accused of sexual misconduct and thousands of videos show him molesting women from all age groups, and committing heinous crimes against them.

In February and March, when Amit Shah visited Mysuru to finali s e alliance with the JD(S), he was informed by thousands of workers and leaders, including from Preetham Gowda to AT Ramaswamy, not to make Prajwal Revanna a candidate in Karnataka as he is known to inflict sexual violence on women, inappropriately behaving with them on camera, she said.

BJP knew about video clips involving Hassan MP?

A purported letter addressed to BJP state president BY Vijayendra in December 2023 by BJP leader G Devaraje Gowda -- who had contested for Holenarasipur Assembly seat against Prajwal's father H D Revanna during the 2023 Assembly elections -- informing the state BJP chief about the alleged explicit video clips related to the MP, has surfaced.

In the letter, opposing the BJP's probable alliance with the JD(S), Gowda stated that he was in possession of a pen drive consisting of many video clips and photos allegedly shot by Prajwal Revanna and allegedly used by him to blackmail many women. (PTI)