In the dated video, presumably shot when she was under accused Satish’s custody, the victim is denying being abducted by HD Revanna. SIT, however, told the court that she had given a statement against him.
HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna. (HDRevannaofficial/Facebook)
Ahead of the bail petition hearing of the kidnap case accused JD(S) MLA HD Revanna on Monday, 13 May, a victim’s dated video went viral on the social media platforms on 12 May.
In the video, she claimed that Revanna and his family had not abducted her. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) said that it was an old video. SIT has not ruled out the possibility that the victim was forced to issue such a statement.
While arguing against bail to HD Revanna, special public prosecutors in the Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse case also pointed to how the victim, after being rescued from a farmhouse in Mysuru, had given a statement against the JD(S) MLA.
The victim, who was reportedly taken against her will from her residence on 29 April, 2024, was seen in the recorded video claiming that accused HD Revanna, Prajwal Revanna and Satish Babanna had not kidnapped her.
Recorded by someone else, supposedly when she was in Satish Babanna’s custody, the victim claimed she left the village to stay with her relatives’ place due to gossip that occurred over these leaked videos.
A complaint was filed against MLA Revanna and others on the charges of abducting a woman by the victim’s son at KR Nagar Police Station in Mysuru on 2 May.
Given its connection to Prajwal Revanna’s sexual assault case, this case was transferred to the SIT. Based on the complaint, the SIT arrested MLA Revanna on 4 May.
Since his arrest, Revanna has remained in SIT custody for three days until 7 May. As his bail petition hearing is currently underway, he has been sent to judicial custody until 14 May.
In the latest video that has gone viral on social media, the victim claimed that she was neither abducted nor troubled by HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna.
A fresh 2.31 minute video of the victim making a statement on her alleged kidnapping has gone viral since surfacing on social media on 11 May. In the video, the victim claimed that she was very hurt that people in the village were gossiping.
“I thought of spending a few days at a relative’s house and left. But today, I saw on TV and felt bad about why such things were being discussed,” she said citing the ongoing investigation pertaining to the kidnapping case.
She continued, “I felt bad that things were being said when nobody has really hurt me. Whether it is Revanna or Prajwal, none of them has troubled me.”
“Neither have we troubled them. Neither has Babanna troubled me. They have taken very good care of me. Whatever is being said, we have no connection to it. Nobody has kidnapped me either,” she said, denying her abduction.
“I came to my relatives’ house. I want to tell my son also that I am well and not to worry. Don’t be scared. I am right here. I will come back soon. Nobody should worry. I am safe,” the woman said.
“They have not kidnapped me. I will come back after four days. I will give you all the information about my whereabouts. Don’t bring the police near the house. The kids will get scared. We are labourers. We earn a livelihood doing chores. There is no trouble at all,” she claimed.
She continued, “If there was trouble, I would have told you myself. They have not troubled me. They have taken good care of me. I am safe.”
“Nobody has kidnapped me. My son has ignorantly filed a complaint. He was just worried that I had left abruptly. No one has troubled me. I have only left home. I will return safely,” the woman added.
In response to the victim’s claims in the video, the SIT clarified that it was a dated video as she is still under police protection.
After the video of the victim went viral on the social media, there was confusion about whether it was the latest or an old video, which surfaced on 11 May.
Putting an end to the confusion, sources from SIT confirmed to South First that the said video was recorded even before she was rescued from a farm house in Kalenahalli near Hunsur taluka of Mysuru on 4 May.
On anonymity, an official from the SIT told South First, “The video appears to be old, considering the statements she made in it. In the video, she claims that she will return in four days, which contrasts with other statements. We are looking into that as well.”
“The SIT has recorded all her statements related to the case and even completed the spot inquest as well. She is still under police protection, keeping her safety in mind,” added the sources.
However, the officer did not disclose anything pertaining to the statement she issued on the kidnapping case.
It may be noted that an FIR was registered against Revanna and Satish Babanna on charges of kidnapping a former domestic help. The complaint was filed by the victim’s son at KR Nagar Police Station in Mysuru.
In the complaint, he alleged that four days before the Parliament elections on 26 April, the victim was taken from her home by Bababba on the pretext of Bhavani Revanna calling for her.
She was then dropped back at her residence on 26 April. The family was threatened not to inform the police or even approach them.
“Satish Babanna took the victim against her will on 29 April again. She has been missing since. Babanna claimed that Revanna asked him to bring her. He forcibly took her on a two-wheeler,” alleged the complainant, who is the son of the victim.
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)
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