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Prajwal Revanna, a former Member of Parliament from the Janata Dal (Secular) party, finds himself at the center of a major scandal that has rocked Karnataka’s political landscape. The controversy erupted in late April 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections, when over 2,900 video clips allegedly from Revanna’s mobile phones were leaked to the public. These leaks triggered a series of sexual misconduct allegations against the politician, leading to multiple legal cases.

The first FIR was filed on April 28, 2024, by a woman who had worked as a house help for the Revanna family. She accused both Prajwal Revanna and his father, HD Revanna, of rape. This initial case raised alarming questions about the potential extent of the alleged misconduct within the Revanna household.

A second FIR followed on May 2, 2024, when a 44-year-old political worker accused Prajwal of rape. The alleged assault reportedly occurred in his official quarters in Hassan city in 2021. The complainant claimed Revanna recorded the assault and used the footage for blackmail, forcing her into further sexual encounters between January 1, 2021, and April 25, 2024.

On May 8, 2024, a third FIR was registered based on a complaint from another house help, a woman in her sixties from Mysuru. Revanna was booked for repeated rape in this case, further intensifying the legal pressure on the former MP.

The latest and fourth FIR, filed in June 2024, involves accusations of sexual assault and non-consensual recording of private video calls. The victim reportedly initially contacted Revanna regarding her son’s school admission, after which he allegedly began making inappropriate video calls. This FIR also implicates three others: former BJP MLA Preetham Gowda and two associates, Kiran and Sharath, for allegedly distributing compromising images.

Revanna is currently in judicial custody for 14 days, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) requesting a body warrant to keep him in custody until June 29 for the latest case. The SIT is actively investigating all four cases, questioning multiple individuals and gathering evidence.

The charges against Revanna include sections of the Indian Penal Code related to outraging a woman’s modesty, voyeurism, and rape. Additional charges under the Information Technology Act have been applied for violation of privacy. The case has significant political implications, as it involves a member of a prominent political family in Karnataka and has connections to other political figures.

The scandal has already had significant political fallout. Revanna has been suspended from the JD(S) party and was defeated in the Hassan constituency during the April 26 Lok Sabha elections. The involvement of a former BJP MLA in the latest FIR suggests potential cross-party ramifications.

As the SIT’s investigation continues to uncover new details and allegations, the case has drawn significant public attention and raised questions about the abuse of power by political figures. The ongoing probe may have far-reaching consequences for regional politics in Karnataka and potentially at the national level, underscoring the importance of addressing allegations of misconduct by public officials.

Written by Maria Therese Syriac.

 

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