Reacting to the arrest of JD (S) MLA H.D. Revanna, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday demanded "severe punishment" for people who commit actions that reflect the "worst kind of practices in our society". He also praised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the withdrawal of MP Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport.
Prajwal Revanna and his father H.D. Revanna, the son of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, have been accused of sexually harassing multiple women and filming the incidents. The senior Revanna was arrested on Saturday in connection with an abduction case linked to the allegations. Prajwal Revanna, who is believed to be in Germany, has denied the allegations.
“Every story that's coming out has been horrifying and shocking," Tharoor said of the case. "Understandably women activists, not just in Karnataka but in many other states have raised their voices saying that this is something that represents the worst kind of practices in our society that must be dealt with in an exemplary action,” he told ANI.
“Condign punishment has to be given so that people are not tempted to behave like this ever again..." he added. Saying he was "wary of trial without a trial", he added that he hoped justice is done in a proper manner. He also said "to play politics with this is a joke because the BJP's ally is what is involved in this". "They have to look inward and decide what to do," Tharoor added.
He referred to reports that the case was first reported to a BJP leader and questioned the party's bid to criticise the Congress over the action taken, saying that the BJP leader who was first informed of the allegations should have reported them to police.
"From our point of view, the Congress party government is doing the right thing,” he added.
“CM Siddaramaiah has written to PM Modi asking for the diplomatic passport of this young man [Prajwal Revanna] to be withdrawn and for him to be brought back to the country to face justice. I think we strongly support that demand of the CM,” Tharoor said.
H.D Revanna Arrested In Kidnapping Case
JD(S) MLA H.D. Revanna was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the sexual harassment case, following an abduction complaint linked to allegations of sexual abuse involving Prajwal.
Revanna was apprehended from his father’s residence in Padmanabhanagar and taken to the SIT office.
The case against Revanna and his associate Sathish Babanna was filed in Mysuru on Thursday night. They were accused by a man of abducting his mother to keep her from appearing before the SIT, PTI reported, citing police sources.
Revanna faces charges under sections 364(a) (kidnapping for ransom), 365 (wrongful confinement), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
After a medical examination at Bowring Hospital, Revanna was returned to the SIT office and is expected to appear before a magistrate today.
On Saturday, Revanna’s plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Special Court for Elected Representatives. On the same day, police rescued the abducted woman from a farmhouse allegedly belonging to an associate of Revanna in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district.
Congress Slams BJP Over Revanna Controversy
The allegations against Prajwal Revanna have become a focal point in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress and BJP-JD(S) coalition trading accusations.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly allowing Prajwal Revanna to leave the country, while CM Siddaramaiah called for the cancellation of his diplomatic passport.
In response, the BJP distanced itself from the issue, asserting that it concerns only Prajwal Revanna and legal proceedings should take their course.
As the political heat and war of words intensifies, Karnataka gears up for polling in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies on May 7. Voting for Hassan, from where Prajwal is seeking re-election, was completed on 26 April.