Gandhi, during his speech, had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of supporting and seeking vote for the 'mass rapist' in front of the people of Karnataka.
Published May 22, 2024 | 5:38 PM ⚊ Updated May 22, 2024 | 5:38 PM
Rahul Gandhi, Prajwal Revanna (X)
The JD(S) on Wednesday, 22 May, complained to Karnataka DGP Alok Mohan against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly claiming that Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse, has “raped 400 women”.
In a complaint, HM Ramesh Gowda, a former MLC and party’s Bengaluru City president has sought registration of a criminal case against Gandhi under section 202 (Intentional omission to give information of an offence by a person legally bound to inform) of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged statement while addressing election rallies in the district headquarters of Shivamogga and Raichur on 2 May.
The JD(S) leader also cited the alleged statement by Gandhi in his complaint.
“Prajwal Revanna has raped 400 women and made videos. This is not a sex scandal but mass rape. And the Prime Minister, in front of the people of Karnataka, was supporting and seeking vote for this mass rapist. He is saying that if you vote for this mass rapist, it would help him,” Gandhi had said.
The complainant said that in the interest of justice for the alleged victims, Gandhi, being a public servant is duty bound to give information of offence.
“In view of the fact that Gandhi has made a specific statement that Prajwal has raped 400 women, he is aware of the information and details of the 400 women raped and has intentionally failed to disclose the details,” he stated in the complaint.
“Till date, the SIT has also not issued any notice to Rahul Gandhi calling for such information for the statement made by him,” the complaint stated. However, no FIR has been registered yet in this regard, police said.
The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM HD Deve Gowda, is the NDA’s candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment.
He is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. The cases came to light after a number of explicit videos and photographs of sexual assault allegedly by Prajwal became public. The identities of the harassed women were also revealed.
After the videos were leaked, the Karnataka State Commission for Women on 27 April wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, recommending the setting up of a SIT to probe the alleged sex scandal. The SIT was constituted the next day.
The SIT issued a summons to Prajwal to appear before them on 30 April. However, he had reportedly left for Germany on 27 April, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large.
Interpol has also issued a Blue Corner Notice seeking information on Prajwal’s whereabouts.
The Special Court of Elected Representatives on 18 May, had issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal. As soon as the news of the court issuing the arrest warrant came out, netizens demanded the Modi government to revoke Prajwal’s diplomatic passport.
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj, with PTI inputs)
