JD(S)’ HD Revanna arrested for kidnapping; Karnataka government to provide financial aid to victims

Meanwhile, the Congress announced that the state government would provide financial assistance to those allegedly sexually assaulted by Prajwal.

Revanna was taken into custody on Saturday, hours after Mysuru police are said to have found a woman who was allegedly abducted by the Holenarasipur MLA’s aide on his instructions.

The missing woman’s son had lodged a complaint accusing Revanna and his aide Satish Babanna of abducting his mother.

The SIT rescued the woman, a Krishnaraja Nagar resident, from Revanna’s assistant Rajasekhar’s farmhouse near Kalenahalli in Mysuru’s Hunsur Taluk on Saturday.

HD Revanna faces charges of sexual harassment by one complaint and is also accused of kidnap by another.

Also Read: SIT takes HD Revanna into custody

Blue Corner Notice issued

Parameshwara said a blue corner notice has been issued to trace the location of Prajwal by the CBI, the nodal body for Interpol matters in India.

“Due to the seriousness of the case, we have constituted an SIT and have given full freedom to them to deliver justice. A blue-corner notice has already been issued (to Prajwal Revanna). They’ll locate him wherever he is and after that, procedurally whatever is required, SIT will do that to bring him here…,” the home minister said.

A Blue Corner Notice is issued by Interpol to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.

Prajwal Revanna is said to have flown abroad on 27 April, a day after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka was held.

Following his arrest on Saturday evening, Revanna had undergone a medical test being taken away. He was arrested after a court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

After hearing the plea filed by Revanna in connection with the kidnapping case, the People’s Representative Court in Bengaluru reserved its order until the next hearing.

When Revanna’s advocate sought interim relief, the court rejected it and posted the matter for 6 May which paved the way for Revanna’s arrest.

To provide financial assistance

Congress general secretary and the party’s Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala announced the financial assistance at a press conference in Bengaluru in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had demanded that appropriate action be taken against the accused.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced financial assistance to the rape survivors who are in hundreds since it is a unique case which has never happened in the last 75 years,” Surjewala said.

Flanked by Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Surjewala charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with protecting their alliance partner JD(S) candidate, who is a ‘mass rapist’.

“Why did BJP form an alliance with the JD(S) despite having information about Prajwal?” he asked.

He also sought to know why the External Affairs Ministry did not stop Prajwal from fleeing abroad.

“Why did the PM not cancel Prajwal’s diplomatic passport and why no blue corner notice through Interpol was issued to bring him back?” Surjewala questioned.

Also Read: CBI’s ‘Blue Corner Notice’ likely against Prajwal Revanna, SIT tells Siddaramaiah

Kidnapping case against Revanna

According to the FIR filed by the victim’s son, accessed by South First, three to four days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections (26 April), the victim was taken from her home by the accused Sathish Babanna on the pretext of Bhavani (HD Revanna’s wife) calling for her.

She was then dropped back at her residence on election day, 26 April.

The FIR further notes that the victim’s family was threatened not to inform the police, or even if the police approach them, Sathish Babanna should be informed.

Three days after the election day, on 29 April, the victim was taken by Sathish Babanna against her will and has been missing since.

The FIR states, “On 29 April, at 9 pm, when we were at home, Sathish Babanna came and said that if the police come and get your mother, they could file a case and you will go to jail. So Revanna sir (HD Revanna) asked me to bring her. He forcibly took her on a Hero Honda.”

Babanna was arrested on 2 May. He was presented before the KR Nagar Judicial Magistrate First Class court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)