‘JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna’s uncle Kumaraswamy is behind circulation of alleged explicit videos,’ alleges DK Shivakumar

The 33-year-old JD(S) MP, who is Kumaraswamy’s nephew, is facing sexual abuse charges. The alleged sexual abuse incidents have raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.

While the Congress government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the cases, the BJP and JD(S) — NDA partners — have demanded that it be handed over to the CBI.

Also Read: ‘25,000 pen drives circulated’, claims Prajwal’s uncle HD Kumaraswamy

‘Knew about the pen drive’

“Kumaraswamy knows about the pen drive (containing explicit video clips) matter completely. A lawyer (Devaraje Gowda) and others are speaking. Kumaranna (Kumaraswamy) wants my resignation, it seems there is competition for Vokkaliga leadership. Let me give resignation, as he wants it,” Shivakumar said sarcastically.

While speaking to reporters in Chikkamagaluru, he said, “Finishing (politically) one after the other is his (Kumaraswamy) job. Blackmailing, (Kumaraswamy is) the king of blackmail…he is threatening everyone, officers, and politicians, does he have anything else to do? Let him do it, there is time to discuss all this, let’s discuss it in the Assembly.”

Kumaraswamy on Tuesday had claimed that 25,000 pen drives with videos of women being sexually abused allegedly by his nephew, Lok Sabha election candidate Prajwal Revanna, were distributed before polls, and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar of a conspiracy.

The former chief minister also had sought to discredit the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Congress government on April 28 to probe the charges against Prajwal of sexually abusing several women after videos allegedly involving him started making the rounds on social media.

Also Read: Deadline ends, Prajwal remains out of sight

Questions Kumaraswamy

Kumaraswamy said his name and that of his father HD Deve Gowda should not be taken or linked to the explicit video clips case, as the Revanna family is separate, Shivakumar pointed out and asked, “Then why is he (Kumaraswamy) worried about the matter that is not linked to him? Having already said that action should be taken in accordance with law and the guilty should be punished, why is he speaking?”

“Is he (Kumaraswamy) a lawyer or a judge to issue the judgment? Let him go to court and argue point by point. He has called SIT — Shivakumar Investigation Team and Siddaramaiah Investigation Team, (Congress in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh) Surjewala Investigation Team. He is the lead of the story, he is the director, he is the producer, he is everything. We know what he is up to,” he said.

Asked about allegations that Congress was behind the pen drive circulation, Shivakumar said, “Kumaraswamy is getting things done by the BJP, he is behind everything, let the investigation happen.”

“Let those speaking on the issue, if they have any shame, go to the victims’ family and try to instil confidence and give them strength,” he said.

Reacting to JD(S) staging a protest against him, Shivakumar said, they “can’t sleep” without taking his name

“If they don’t do it against me, their market won’t run, without taking my name they won’t get peace of mind, and even you (media) won’t show them. More strong more enemies, less strong less enemies, not strong no enemies,” he added.

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