Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna has been suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) amid a controversy over explicit videos allegedly showing him sexually assaulting multiple women. The sitting MP from Karnataka’s Hassan constituency has also been issued a show cause notice by the party.
The scandal erupted when video clips, allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna, surfaced on social media shortly after his constituency went to polls. The videos, reportedly numbering in the hundreds, were said to have been shot by Revanna and widely circulated in the Hassan constituency.
A woman filed a police case against Prajwal Revanna, accusing him of sexual assault and stating that she had been abused multiple times between 2019 and 2022. She also alleged that Revanna’s father, HD Revanna, had also sexually assaulted her when his wife was not at home.
Prajwal Revanna has denied the allegations, claiming that the videos being circulated are doctored. He left for Germany on Saturday morning after the videos emerged online.
HD Revanna, also accused in the case, dismissed the allegations as a conspiracy by political rivals, describing the videos as old.
The Karnataka government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the case, following a recommendation by the state women’s commission.
Regarding reports of Prajwal leaving the country pending a probe, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that Prajwal would be asked to return to India by the SIT.
Nagalakshmi Choudhary, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, confirmed receiving a pen drive containing hundreds of explicit videos, some allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna.
BJP Leader Devaraje Gowda claimed to have written to the state president in December last year, flagging “grave allegations” against the HD Deve Gowda family, including Prajwal Revanna. He stated that he had received a pen drive containing 2,976 explicit videos of women, purportedly being used for blackmailing them into continuing sexual activities.