JD-S expels Prajwal, protesters seek arrest
■ Cong questions silence of Modi, Shah over obscene video ■ HDK distances self from nephew
PRAJWAL REVANNA is the son of H.D. Revanna, former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda's elder son who is an MLA and former minister
Bowing to pressure from party MLAs, JD(S) president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Monday expelled Hassan Lok Sabha member Prajwal Revanna from the party over allegations of his sexual abuse of several women. Prajwal is the grandson of Mr Gowda.
JDS MLAs — Sharangouda Kundakur and Samruddhi
Manjunath — had written to Mr Gowda urging him to address the allegations against Mr Prajwal after many explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal sexually abusing several women started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days.
The 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna is the son of H.D. Revanna, former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda's elder son who is an MLA and former minister.
A 47-year-old woman, who worked as a house help at the Revanna home, has also lodged a complaint naming both Prajwal and his father alleging extreme sexual harassment over the years.
Former chief minister and JDS state unit president H.D. Kumaraswamy confirmed Prajwal's expulsion from JDS to reporters in Shivamogga, where he was engaged in election campaigning.
Mr Kumaraswamy clarified that he and his brother Revanna had severed ties and distanced themselves from each other's family matters.
His brother, however, suspects a conspiracy by political opponents to tarnish his family's reputation and has vowed to pursue legal action against this alleged plot.
All-India Mahila Congress Committee
president Alka Lamba, who was in Bengaluru city on Monday, demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to arrest Prajwal, who is reportedly evading authorities in Germany.
Ms Lamba urged Mr Modi to engage with the German government to facilitate Prajwal's extradition to face trial for the sexual harassment allegations against him.
Ms Lamba stated that as many as 3,000 videos have been shot by the accused in which he has allegedly harassed women, elected members of local bodies and even some minor girls who went to seek help from Hassan Lok Sabha member.
The victims are estimated to be around 1,000 and one of the victims has come forward to lodge a police complaint against Prajwal.
Ms Lamba also appealed to other victims to come forward and file police complaints against the accused persons either through a “zero first information report” or online. She assured them of Mahila Congress' support.
The Mahila Congress president criticised Mr Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and Mr Gowda for their silence on the issue.
The Congress government in Karnataka on Sunday constituted a special investigation team to investigate the allegations against the Hassan MP and Lok Sabha poll candidate.
Meanwhile, Prajwal has asserted that the viral videos were doctored and has filed a complaint in this regard.
According to police sources, he fled the country after voting was over as the videos began surfacing.
The incident has sparked outrage across the state while different organisations are demanding the MP’s arrest and quick trial.
In Hassan town and Holenarsipur taluk, various groups staged protests demanding the immediate arrest of Prajwal Revanna over allegations of sexual harassment against women and minors.
They welcomed the formation of the special investigation team to probe the allegations and urged the government to grant the SIT full autonomy in its investigation.
They also called for an inquiry into claims made by BJP leader and advocate Devaraje Gowda regarding video evidence allegedly implicating Prajwal.
They also demanded protection of the victim's family, who filed the initial police complaint, against potential retaliation.