In an incident that has sent waves of shock through Karnataka’s political landscape, Janata Dal (Secular) Member of Parliament (MP) Prajwal Revanna is at the centre of controversy after being accused of sexual assault. The charges have not only harmed his image, but they also point to his father, Holenarasipur MLA HD Revanna, in the disturbing case.
The case unfolded when a 47-year-old woman, who previously worked as a house help at Prajwal Revanna’s residence, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment. She bravely named both Prajwal and his father as the accused, prompting Karnataka police to take action. The case has been registered at the Holenarasipur police station in Hassan district, adding further complexity to Prajwal’s bid for reelection in the Lok Sabha from the Hassan constituency.
Prajwal Revanna vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that the circulated videos purportedly depicting the assaults are “morphed” and part of a smear campaign aimed at poisoning the minds of voters. Nevertheless, the severity of the accusations and the involvement of a prominent political figure have thrust the case into the spotlight.
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According to the complaint, the environment at the house was filled with anxiety, especially when Prajwal Revanna was there. She alleges sexual assault, claiming that HD Revanna would summon female employees to the storeroom and engage in improper behaviour, such as removing saree pins and caressing them inappropriately.
The seriousness of the matter increased when the victim revealed that Prajwal Revanna had also misbehaved with her daughter via video call, pushing her to finally come forward and file a report. The Karnataka government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an in-depth investigation into the claims.
Prajwal Revanna, who firmly rejects the charges, has filed a case, saying that the viral films purporting to show him engaged in sexual assault are “morphed” and part of a smear operation to destroy his image ahead of the elections. He has also sought a court order against many media outlets to prohibit the publication of what he considers defamatory information.
The government and law enforcement officials responded quickly, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announcing the creation of a CID-led SIT to comprehensively probe the situation. The seriousness with which the authorities are handling this issue emphasizes the need to respect the ideals of justice and accountability, particularly in instances involving people in positions of authority.
However, in the middle of the mounting scandal, Prajwal Revanna abruptly left the nation for Germany shortly after the tapes surfaced online. His departure has sparked questions and prompted charges from opposition parties, notably the Congress, that the BJP assisted Prajwal in departing the country to avoid punishment.
This controversy adds to a stressful trend within Indian politics, where several prominent leaders have already been accused of sexual misconduct. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), up to 134 serving MPs and MLAs have been charged with crimes against women, showing the issue’s pervasiveness.
