A 27-year-old man had complained to the police that Suraj Revanna sexually abused him at his farmhouse in Ghannikada on 16 June.
Suraj Revanna. (X)
JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna — the brother of former MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women — was arrested on Sunday, 23 June, on charges of “unnatural offences” against him, police sources said.
He was booked on Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing a party worker a few days ago and has been booked under different sections of the IPC, including 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Suraj was questioned at the CEN police station in Hassan overnight before he was arrested, the sources said.
Following the arrest, the Karnataka government transferred the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
#Karnataka: The state government hands over @JanataDal_S MLC Suraj Revanna’s sexual harassment case to the Criminal Investigation Department.
On the complaint of the victim, an FIR was registered against #SurajRevanna at the Holenarsipura Rural PS. pic.twitter.com/cJV9D08Kqn
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) June 23, 2024
The Special Unit and Economic Offences wing of CID in Bengaluru has been asked to take over the case.
Suraj was taken for medical examination in the Hassan district hospital ahead of producing him before a local magistrate.
A 27-year-old man had complained to the police that Suraj Revanna, the eldest son of Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna, sexually abused him at his farmhouse in Ghannikada on 16 June.
Based on the complaint, the Holenarasipura police registered a case against the JD(S) MLC under IPC sections 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) late on Saturday evening.
However, Suraj Revanna (37), the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and the nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, has categorically refuted the charge.
Suraj also alleged that the man had filed a false complaint against him in a bid to extort ₹5 crore from him.
On Friday, police registered a case of extortion against the JD(S) worker on a complaint by Suraj Revanna’s close aide Shivakumar.
#Karnataka: #Hassan Police takes sexual violence accused @JanataDal_S MLC #SurajRevanna for medical test to the district hospital.
Sakleshpura DySP Pramod Kumar has been appointed as the Investigating Officer. Suraj will be produced before the local magistrate after the… pic.twitter.com/Uo3N4B09pY
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) June 23, 2024
Speaking to reporters, Home Minister G Parameshwara said following the complaint, police have registered an FIR, they have secured Suraj Revanna and the inquiry is going on.
The case is being handed over to the CID, he said, adding “A series of similar cases were given to CID, this is also being given to CID.”
Regarding Suraj Revanna’s complaint, he said, “Whatever action needs to be taken on that, will be taken.”
On Suraj Revanna alleging a conspiracy against his family, Parameshwara said, “complaint has come, based on it whatever action needs to be taken in accordance with the law, is being taken. Other than that I don’t know about any political conspiracy that he has alleged.”
Shivakumar had alleged that the party worker was trying to extort money from Suraj Revanna by threatening to lodge a false case of sexual assault against him.
It has been alleged that while the man demanded ₹5 crore from Suraj Revanna, later it was reduced to ₹2 crore.
Suraj’s brother and former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna is in police custody for allegedly sexually assaulting several women and was arrested upon his return from Germany last month.
Prajwal, who lost from Hassan Lok Sabha seat, was arrested on 31 May soon after returning from Germany where he was holed up after rape and intimidation cases were registered against him.
Their father HD Revanna and mother Bhavani are out on bail. They have been accused of kidnapping and keeping an alleged victim of their son Prajwal’s sexual assaults.
Meanwhile, Revanna termed the allegations against his son Suraj Revanna of sexually abusing a male party worker as a “conspiracy” and said he has faith in God and the judiciary.
Not wanting to react to anything, he said when the time comes he will tell everything.
“I won’t react to anything. Let the (CID) do it (investigation). Who said don’t (investigate)? I won’t say anything on this. I have respect for the judiciary. I know what’s happening in the state,” Revanna said.
While speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, “I won’t react to anything. I have faith in God and the judiciary. I won’t fear such conspiracies. I know what it is, time will decide.”
Asked as to who was conspiring, Revanna said, “I don’t know, you (media) will have to tell — who, what. I will leave it to you…will face it, judiciary is there. Suraj has gone (to police), everyone knows what all has happened in the last couple of days.”
Regarding Suraj’s complaint, he said, “I don’t know what it is. Time will come, when time comes I will tell everything.”
Not wanting to react to the case regarding his nephew Suraj, Kumaraswamy said he didn’t have anything to do with it, and law would take its course.
“That issue, why do you ask me? It is not pertaining to me. It is not necessary to react to all those things. Law will take its own course…What do I have to do with it (case)?” he said.
Asking reporters not to discuss with him on the matter, Kumaraswamy said, “discuss with me on issues concerning the state. Why discuss with me about it, what is the need? Law will take its course…why such cases, we will get to know in the days to come.”
(With PTI inputs)
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