The development comes in the backdrop of JD(S) state president and former CM HD Kumaraswamy alleging that SIT is acting to tunes of the state government.
Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara rules out transfering Prajwal Revanna's case to the CBI. (Supplied)
Stating that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is competent and efficient, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Wednesday, 8 May, asserted that the state government will not handover Prajwal Revanna’s sexual abuse case to the CBI.
“SIT is competent and efficient. There is no necessity to handover it to the CBI,” he said.
The development comes in the backdrop of JD(S) state president and former CM HD Kumaraswamy alleging that SIT is acting to tunes of the state government.
Citing lack of transparency in the investigation, Kumaraswamy had demanded to handover Prajwal’s sexual abuse case to the CBI.
“Former CM HD Kumaraswamy has stated that SIT is incompetent, inefficient to conduct this investigation and demanded to handover to CBI,” Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
#Karnataka: Home Minister @DrGParameshwara announced that there is no necessity to transfer #PrajwalRevanna’s sex violence case to the CBI.
On the demands to transfer @iPrajwalRevanna’s case to the CBI, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar stated: “SIT is competent and… pic.twitter.com/Fa76ualfHR
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) May 8, 2024
BJP leader and advocate Devaraje Gowda also demanded to transfer the case to the CBI instead of continuing with the SIT. He also cautioned the writ petition before the Karnataka High Court seeking for the transfer of the case to the central probe agency.
In another development pertaining to the investigation of the case, the SIT has taken statements from five victims and three more people have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping case, claimed the home minister.
On mounting pressure from the JD(S) over delaying the arrest of Naveen Gowda, Karthik Gowda and two others, who are facing the charges of leaking videos, the Home Minister clarified that they will be able to arrest only when they get concrete evidence and information on them.
“Being a representative of the government, I would like to inform him that he was the Chief Minister of this state as well. He is aware how the SIT operates. Our police force is efficient. People are aware of how the investigation is underway,” Parameshwara said.
“Apart from some political comments, the SIT is heading in the right direction and investigation is also being conducted in the proper path. There is no necessity to transfer it to the CBI,” reiterated the home minister.
Clarifying why the government was not willing to hand over the case to the CBI, he said: “From 2008 to 2013, the then government did not give a single case to the CBI. Since then, the cases that have been transferred to the CBI, there have been opinions that the probe was not satisfactory.”
“For example, in IAS officer DK Ravi’s case, CBI report was criticised. We should not assume that handing it over to the CBI will do wonders,” Parameshwara said ruling out the possibilities of handing over the case to central probe agency.
Responding to the allegations of the JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy, Minister Parameshwara clarified that neither the chief minister nor anyone from the government was interfering in the ongoing investigation by the SIT into Prajwal Revanna’s case.
Parameshwara told reporters, “SIT is sincerely and effectively, without any interference from the chief minister, myself or anyone else in the government.”
“We have given them freedom. We have only directed them to act as per the laws. They are aware of the legal boundaries. So, there is no necessity to handover the case to the CBI. SIT is efficient, we shall continue to trust them,” said the home minister.
On Tuesday, Kumaraswamy alleged that the chief minister and deputy chief minister were interfering in the case by holding discussions with higher police officers to frame people involved in this case.
While the SIT has intensified the investigation of Prajwal Revanna’s case, Parameshwara disclosed that the investigative team has so far taken statements from five victims in connection with the case.
The home minister told reporters, “We have recorded statements of five victims so far. I cannot disclose any further details pertaining to the case as the probe is underway.”
“Three more persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a woman. I do not want to disclose more information,” he said, refraining from disclosing further developments related to the investigation.
On intelligence failure over Prajwal fleeing the country, Parameshwara pointed out, “Under whose jurisdiction does airport immigration fall? In every state there is an intelligence bureau; they are aware of this.”
“They could have sensitised and alerted immigration immediately. He should not have been able to leave the country. Blame game is not useful in this case,” added the home minister.
On criticising the SIT over not arresting people that reportedly leaked videos of Prajwal, Parameshwara clarified that they cannot be arrested until the SIT gets concrete evidence and information against them.
Parameshwara said, “As per the laws, if we have to arrest a person, we need to have strong evidence. Karthik Gowda appointed Devaraje Gowda as his lawyer. Until we get concrete evidence and information, we cannot arrest him.”
“SIT has recorded their statements. They will verify their statements. If we get information in this process, we will arrest them. We are not giving protection to anyone. We will give protection only to the victims. We and the SIT have all the information. They will arrest them whenever it is necessary,” stated the home minister.
He further said, “It is common for some people to question publicly. However, we must adhere to legal boundaries and technical aspects. When should we call them in (for statements)? When should we arrest them? We cannot influence these decisions.”
“SIT is aware about the whereabouts of Naveen and Karthik. They will be arrested whenever it is necessary. They have taken statements from these people as well.”
“We will arrest them when we get evidence. I do not want to disclose anything more. I have technical reasons,” replied the home minister when he was asked about the court rejecting bail to the four accused in the case pertaining to leaking the videos.
Minister Parameshwara stated that the Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice to 196 countries for Prajwal Revanna, following the request from the CBI.
After the private videos of Prajwal Revanna were leaked, the Hassan incumbent MP reportedly flew to a foreign country.
As he is the main accused in the sexual abuse case, the SIT approached the CBI to communicate with the Interpol regarding issuing a Blue Corner Notice against Prajwal.
Parameshwara told reporters, “After the CBI’s request for issuing the Blue Corner notice, Interpol has issued it to 196 countries. The notice will be issued from Interpol’s headquarters in France”.
“Based on this notice, the person in question will be located and information will be shared. Interpol will make necessary arrangements to repatriate the person to the country,” he said.
“It is difficult to conduct an investigation until he arrives. Revanna has been arrested based on the available information. The statements are being recorded from complainants as well. We are not aware of which statements have been recorded. I will not disclose it,” added the home minister.
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)
May 20, 2024
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