Karnataka Sex Scandal: Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD-S MP from Karnataka who is facing charges of sexual abuse and criminal intimidation, was arrested late on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. The Hasan MP had been absconding and a Blue Corner notice had been issued against him. He was arrested minutes after he landed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, reported news agency PTI. Prajwal Revanna left India on April 27.
He was handed over to the SIT by airport security after the completion of all formalities. Revanna will be produced in court on Friday in connection with the Karnataka sex scandal, in which videos of Prajwal Revanna allegedly sexually abusing women were shared. His father HD Revanna was earlier arrested on the charge of abducting a woman. He was later released on bail.
Karnataka Youth Congress president Mohammed Haris Nalapad was quoted as saying by news agency ANI: "The programme of Prajwal Revanna to go outside India is sponsored by BJP. On May 26, after polling, he was sent immediately with a diplomatic passport outside... The BJP, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and our Yediyurappa all planned together and sent to Prajwal Revanna outside."
However, Revanna had earlier said that his trip had been planned earlier as no case was registered against him when the polling for the Lok Sabha elections was held in Karnataka on April 26. The FIR against him was registered on April 27.
Earlier on May 27, Prajwal Revanna in a selfie video, said he would appear for questioning by the SIT on May 31.
Revanna's request for anticipatory bail, submitted on May 29, remains pending in court. His plea came just hours after the SIT caught two suspects in the case, identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan.
According to police sources, the suspects were taken into custody when they appeared before the Karnataka High Court, seeking anticipatory bail. Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda are accused of distributing USB drives containing videos allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna involved in sexual misconduct.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Randhir Jaiswal stated on Thursday that a show-cause notice had been issued to Revanna on May 23 and measures to revoke his diplomatic passport had been initiated.
"The MEA has begun action under the Passport Act of 1967 to revoke Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport. A show cause notice was issued on May 23, allowing the passport holder 10 working days to respond. We are awaiting his response, and will proceed based on his reply or after the 10-day period ends," Jaiswal explained.
Earlier on Thursday, thousands joined the 'Hassan Chalo' protest organized by the Union of Karnataka People's Movement in Hassan district, demanding Revanna's arrest.
The demonstration saw the participation of around ten thousand representatives from 113 organizations across the state. The march began at Hassan's Hemavati statue and concluded with a public meeting at New Bus Stand Road near the District Collector's office.
Prominent figures such as CPM leader Subhashini Ali, Janavadi Mahila Sangathan president Meenakshi Bali, writers Banu Mushtaq, Roop Hassan, and representatives from various organizations were present.
Participants included diverse groups from different sectors, including women, farmers, students, gender minorities, intellectuals, artists, and retired government officials from Bengaluru, Mysore, Hassan, Mangaluru, Mandya, and Chikkamagaluru, all protesting against the sexual exploitation of women.
Leaders of these organizations emphasized that those responsible for distributing the USB drives should be held accountable for exploiting women's dignity. They organized the Hassan Chalo march to demand Prajwal Revanna's arrest and action against the distributors of the pen drives.