Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD(S) leader who had been on the run for 34 days, returned to India on Friday. He arrived at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport on May 31, where Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials were waiting for him. Upon arrival, the Hassan MP was immediately arrested and taken in for questioning regarding the sexual harassment case he is accused of.
Revanna’s return marks a significant development in the case, as the SIT will now interrogate him about the allegations made by multiple women, claiming that he and his father, HD Revanna, sexually abused them over an extended period.
This case has garnered political attention, particularly during the 2024 Lok Sabha election season. The Opposition has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is allied with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, for allegedly protecting Revanna within its party.
Timeline of Events Leading to Prajwal Revanna’s Arrest:
- April 27: Video clips allegedly showing Revanna and multiple women surfaced online, a day after Karnataka’s Hassan went to polls on April 26.
- April 27: On the same day, Revanna, the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, fled to Germany using his diplomatic passport.
- April 27: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formed an SIT based on FIRs filed by women who claimed Revanna abused them.
- April 30: Revanna was suspended by JD(S), with the party announcing that he would remain suspended until the SIT completed its probe.
- May 1: Revanna, through his lawyers, responded to his summons and made his first public comment on the case, saying, “Truth will prevail.”
- May 2: The SIT issued a lookout notice against Revanna after he indicated he wouldn’t attend an inquiry.
- May 4: Revanna’s father, HD Revanna, a co-accused in the case, was arrested and remained in judicial custody until May 14.
- May 23: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda publicly commented on the allegations against his grandson, urging him to cooperate with the investigation and stating, “Don’t test my patience.”
- May 23: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a letter from the Karnataka government requesting the cancellation of Revanna’s diplomatic passport.
- May 27: Prajwal Revanna published a video message announcing that he would appear before the SIT on May 31.
- May 29: Revanna filed an anticipatory bail plea in the rape case against him, but it was later rejected by a special court in Karnataka.
- May 31: Prajwal Revanna returned to India and was promptly arrested.
