Prajwal 'sex scandal' jolts BJP's Karnataka push

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru/Hassan: As the sex scandal involving Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna raged across political circles and social media platforms, the Congress launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, alleging that they fielded Prajwal — grandson of party supremo and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda — from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency despite being informed about his sexual misconduct by Karnataka BJP leaders.

Prajwal and his father H.D. Revanna have been named in an FIR after their former cook alleged sexual abuse by both men.

In response to the escalating sex scandal, Prajwal was suspended from the JD(S) on Tuesday.

Allegations surfaced involving a pen drive allegedly containing 2,976 sexually explicit video clips, purportedly featuring Prajwal engaging in forced sexual acts, prompting a police investigation.

After several days of allegations, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has finally demanded an action taken report(ATR) within three days regarding the sexual abuse case against Prajwal.

They urged the authorities, particularly Bengaluru Police, to take decisive action to apprehend the accused.

The JD(S) is contesting the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka in alliance with the BJP.

Political analysts speculate that the scandal may tarnish the image of both the BJP and JD(S), with women voters expected to remember the assault allegations targeting women when casting their ballots.

Fourteen more seats in the state are scheduled to go to polls on May 7. Despite knowing about the assault case, several prominent leaders, including Modi, campaigned for Revanna.

In one of the viral videos, Modi is heard saying in Hindi, "Every vote to Prajwal Revanna in Hassan will give strength to Modi."

Political experts, who preferred not to be named, said if this case had involved a minority or opposition leader, airtime and television debates would have featured them nonstop.

In response to the allegations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised BJP's support for women empowerment, deflecting criticism onto the Congressled government's 'inaction.'

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge questioned Shah's stance.

"When BJP MLA candidate Devaraje Gowda addressed a letter to you in Dec 2023 on such serious allegations, why did you agree to his candidature? Why did Modi ji campaign for him?," the minister asked.

“Despite, being aware of all these issues, you also campaigned for him, Modi ji,” he added. Meanwhile, amid reports that Prajwal had fled to Germany, the German Embassy in India declined to comment on the matter.

‘I GAVE PEN DRIVE ONLY TO BJP LEADER:' REVANNA’S FORMER DRIVER

A day after Karnataka BJP leader Devaraje Gowda claimed that the alleged sleaze videos of Prajwal Revanna were leaked first to Congress leaders, Karthik, Revanna’s former driver, said on Tuesday that he had shared the videos with only Gowda, who had promised to get him justice.

In a video released on Tuesday, Karthik claimed that he had approached Gowda after the Revanna family harassed him and forcefully transferred a parcel of land he owned to their name.

“I do not know whether he (Gowda) distributed the pen drive or gave it to someone else for the purpose or the BJP did it. But, I did not give the pen drive to anyone else except him. Now, he is blaming me for giving it to Congress leaders. If I were to give it to Congress leaders, why would I approach him for justice?” Karthik asked.