The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
H.D. Revanna remanded in SIT custody for three days
Former Karnataka Minister undergoes medical examination, claims his arrest is part of a political conspiracy; arrest in abduction case comes minutes after his anticipatory bail plea is turned down
Janata Dal(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister H.D. Revanna, who has been arrested in an abduction case, was on Sunday remanded in three-day police custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) till Wednesday.
The SIT is probing the alleged multiple instances of sexual abuse by his son and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna.
After medical examination at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, where he spoke to the media waiting outside, Mr. Revanna was produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindrakumar B. Kattimani on Sunday.
He alleged that his arrest was a political conspiracy. “There is no evidence against me. I have not done any harm to anyone. First they registered a case against me on April 28, but when they could not do anything to me in that case, they registered another case just to arrest me. I have fought many battles in my 40-year career and will ght it out this time too,” he said.
He was arrested minutes after his anticipatory bail petition was turned down by the Special Court for Elected Representatives on Saturday.
The SIT sought his custody, even as Mr. Revanna’s advocate opposed it. However,
the magistrate remanded him in SIT custody for three days.
The former Minister is accused of being involved in the abduction of one of the victims of alleged sexual assault by his son, who is a former maid at his Holenarsipur house.
She was allegedly raped by Mr. Prajwal who also recorded the crime. The victim was reportedly abducted at the behest of Mr. Revanna on April 29 and held captive at a farmhouse of a former personal secretary to Mr. Revanna in Hunsur taluk, Mysuru district.
She was rescued by the SIT on Saturday, hours before Mr. Revanna’s arrest.
Three FIRs
Three FIRs have been registered in connection with the sexual abuse allegations, involving the father and son.
In the rst case in Holenarasipura, the cook and relative of the Revannas complained that Mr. Revanna and Mr. Prajwal had molested her.
In the second complaint led with the CID-Bengaluru, a JD(S) leader accused Mr. Prajwal of raping her at gunpoint, videographing the incident and then blackmailing her.
The third complaint is against Mr. Revanna pertaining to the abduction and illegal detention of the woman.
Blue Corner notice
A Blue Corner notice has been issued and Interpol’s help is being taken to bring Mr. Prajwal back to India, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said.
A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime. (With PTI inputs)