JD(S) Suspends Prajwal Revanna Over Sex Video Row

The Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka on Tuesday suspended Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna and issued him a show-cause notice over sexual abuse allegations. Allegations emerged following complaints by several women against him, leading to his suspension from the party. Prajwal Revanna faces an alleged sexual harassment case registered on April 28, with charges under various sections of the IPC. The decision to suspend him was made during a core committee meeting attended by state JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy and other members.

GT Devegowda, the party's core committee president, expressed support for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Prajwal's actions. "We welcome the SIT probe against Prajwal Revanna. We have decided to recommend to our party's national president to suspend him from the party until the SIT investigation is completed," said Devegowda. Prajwal Revanna's departure for Frankfurt on the day the SIT was constituted raised eyebrows, with HD Kumaraswamy expressing confidence that the SIT will bring his nephew back for investigation.

The controversy erupted when video clips allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna engaging in sexual acts with multiple women, including government employees, circulated in the Hassan district. In response, the Karnataka government ordered an SIT investigation into the matter. The SIT, headed by IPS officer Vijay Kumar Singh, has initiated the investigation into the case, aiming to uncover the truth behind the allegations.

Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is part of the NDA alliance in Karnataka. At 33 years old, he is the NDA candidate for the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.

Karnataka police took action against Prajwal and his father, JD(S) MLA and former minister HD Revanna, based on a complaint from their former house help. Prajwal, as the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate, contested in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) intervened, seeking a report from the Karnataka police within three days regarding the allegations of sexual abuse involving Prajwal Revanna. In a letter to the Karnataka DGP, the NCW emphasized the need for swift action to ensure women's safety and dignity.

"The Commission strongly condemns the incident and is deeply disturbed by its occurrence. Such events not only endanger women's safety but also foster a culture of disrespect and violence against them. We urge prompt and decisive action from the concerned Police Authority to swiftly apprehend the accused, who has fled the country," the letter read.