“Anyone committing crime will be punished but…”: HD Kumaraswamy on Prajwal Revanna’s ‘explicit videos’

Some explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days.

Prajwal Revanna is the BJP-JD(S) alliance’s candidate from Hassan, which went to polls on Friday.

Also Read: Congress demands arrest of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna over alleged sex scandal

‘No question of forgiving’

Kumaraswamy said, “I have noticed that the chief minister has ordered an SIT probe. Whether it is me or Deve Gowda (his father), we have always conducted ourselves respectfully towards women and have responded positively when anyone comes with any suffering. We have tried to address them.”

Speaking to reporters, he said, “The Hassan-related issue that started during elections, let the facts come out through a probe. Whoever it is, who has committed the mistake as per the law of the land…there is no question of forgiving anyone who has committed the mistake. So let the facts come out from the probe, after that, I will react.”

To a question on Prajwal Revanna going to a foreign country, Kumaraswamy said, “It is not related to me. An SIT probe has been ordered, and officials have been put to work. If he has gone to a foreign country, getting him back is their responsibility. What should I say, if I’m asked? They (SIT) will get him, don’t worry.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the decision to constitute a SIT to probe the alleged sex scandal involving the MP.

Also Read: SIT to probe sex videos involving Prajwal Revanna

‘Prajwal left the country’

Meanwhile, the police have information that Prajwal has left the country.

“Prajwal Revanna’s explicit video clips are being circulated in Hassan and it appears prime facie that women were sexually assaulted,” the statement said, adding that the government decided to form an SIT based on a petition by the chief of the Karnataka State Commission for Women.

The Commission’s chairperson Dr Nagalakshmi Chaudhary on Thursday wrote to Siddaramaiah and state police chief Alok Mohan, seeking a probe into the videos that are in circulation in Hassan.

Prajwal has through his election agent lodged a complaint with the authorities that the videos are “doctored” and being circulated to tarnish his image ahead of elections.

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)